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Loneliest Zoo Lion Returns to Africa WATCH His First Steps

Animal loves beware, this video will make you feel all of the feels. This zoo lion returns to Africa and the video will make you cry without a doubt. The…

Behind The Scenes At Sydney Zoo

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 24: A lion looks out from its enclosure at Sydney Zoo on February 24, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney Zoo, located at Bungarribee Park in Western Sydney, is the first new zoo to be built in Sydney in more than 100 years. The Zoo opened to the public on 7 December 2019. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Animal loves beware, this video will make you feel all of the feels. This zoo lion returns to Africa and the video will make you cry without a doubt. The 15-year-old lion named Ruben was alone for five long years in a cell after living with a pride in a zoo.

Where Was The World's Loneliest Zoo Lion

He was abandoned in a private zoo in Armenia for five years but previously had lived there with a pride of lions. He's now traveled a massive distance to be FREE. From Armenia to South Africa, a massive 5,200 mile journey to freedom.

Big shoutout to GoodNewsNetwork for this amazing Cup 'o Joy story. They heard from Elisabeth Oudkerk, SVP Cargo Sales & Network Planning at Qatar Airways Cargo who helped transport the amazing beauty.

“There are a lot of logistics involved in moving animals like Ruben; from the logistics at the airports involved, the process for loading and unloading the animals from the aircraft to ensuring the correct cages and wellbeing of the animals are in place.”

Here's the video of the moment he set foot in Africa, FREEDOM!

Zoo Lion Returns to Africa

As part of the GoodNewsNetwork article, they also chatted with said ADI Wildlife Sanctuary President Jan Creamer. They are the ones orchestrating this very exciting change over.

“His whole demeanor has transformed, his face is relaxed and no longer fearful. His determination to walk is inspiring,” said Creamer. “If he stumbles or falls he just picks himself up and keeps going. He is nothing short of heroic.”

How amazing is this video? It's incredible to think that there are people out there keeping an eye on these big cats who, quite frankly, get lost in the mix of the world. This video made us smile, did it do it for you?

Pennsylvania Has One of the Most Beautiful Spots for Fall Colors in America

The fall season is a glorious time in America. From coast to coast, many different areas off beautiful fall colors in radiant reds, oranges and yellows. So, what are the most beautiful spots for fall colors in America?

Peak fall foliage season is different based on where you are located. Some areas of the U.S. see fall colors as early as September, while others peak later on, such as in October or even November. Generally speaking, areas with longer winters will have earlies fall colors, and areas with longer summers will have later fall colors. Most of America hits peak fall foliage season in the month of October. Of course, areas bordering Canada will be the first to see those colors.

If you're wondering the science behind the fall colors, the color that the leaves become depends on a few factors. Those include the chlorophyll and weather conditions during the summer or fall. Chlorophyll is a pigment that aids in giving leaves their color. In general, big changes from the norm in precipitation, whether it's getting way too much rain or not enough, can really impact the fall foliage season.

Also, I remember last year, the radiant colors in my area fell off the trees early. The reason was that we had a wind storm come through, so the leaves fell prematurely. I was pretty upset about it, because not only do I like to see beautiful fall colors, I also like to paint fall colors. So, my muse was gone.

That said, if you are in the mood to view fall colors this year, here are some great places to do it. Read on for 10 Beautiful spots in America for fall colors. What are your favorite areas to see fall foliage? Reach out to me on social media here and let me know.

Pennsylvania Has One of the Most Beautiful Spots for Fall Colors in America

Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia and North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Parkway is stunning any time of the year, but especially in the fall. The trees on this 469-mile Appalachian attraction turn beautiful shades in the fall, so it's a splendor for the senses. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina and is divided into four districts: the Ridge region, the Plateau region, the Highlands region, and the Pisgah region.

Vogel State Park in Georgia

If you're looking for a late spot to view vibrant fall colors, then we have just the area for you. Vogel State Park, located around the Chattahoochee National Forest in Blairsville, Georgia, is a great area to see fall foliage going into the first half of November. It's a great late-season trip.

Cape May - New Jersey

Cape May in New Jersey is a delightful area to see autumn colors later in the season. From mid-October and through November, the colors here are bright. Don't miss the views of the historic lighthouses in the area, too, plus all the area parks.

Lamoille Canyon - Nevada

Lamoille Canyon in Nevada offers some stunning looks in the autumn months. The area is located in the Ruby Mountains and offers a wide array of fall colors with plenty of different kinds of trees. You can drive on the 12-mile Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway for a prime view.

Traverse City - Michigan

The north parts of Michigan are glorious in the fall months. Traverse City is located on Lake Michigan, and in the fall, the trees turn bright orange and yellow. This area gets really cold in the winter, so the summer and fall months are the best time to travel there. Spring is nice, too.

Torreya State Park - Florida

I know what you're thinking. Fall colors in Florida? The Sunshine State isn't known for their fall colors, but Torreya State Park offers some great, late-season views. The area has quite a few varieties of trees that show their colors in early November. It's worth the road trip, if you live south of there.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Michigan

Waterfalls and fall colors? That sounds great to me. The Tahquamenon Falls State Park has one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. This state park is huge, too, offering 50,000 acres of forest. It's beautiful in the fall.

Washington Crossing - Pennsylvania

The Washington Crossing Historic Park is a special, historical area, because it's the spot where George Washington crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey in 1776. Aside from its history, this Pennsylvania landmark is beautiful in the fall. It offers plenty of bright trees, as well as a colonial reenactment event.

The Great Smoky Mountains - Tennessee and North Carolina

The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee has some of the greatest fall foliage in America. It also has one of the longest fall foliage seasons, so you get plenty of time to take it in. The colors can arrive as early as the middle of September and go all the way through the middle of November. Take it in.

Lenox - Massachusetts

Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary offers a great spot for a hike in the middle part of October, because the colors are so vivid. Expect a delightful view of the vibrant colors. It's a nice area if you don't want to travel to New Hampshire or Burlington, Vermont, and it's a bit more off the radar.

This article was written by Jeff Kurkjian. He is the newest member of The Andie Summers Show on 92.5 XTU. You can follow him on Twitter or Instagram to get to know him a bit better!

Check Out The Andie Summers Show Podcast!

Jeff Kurkjian is the morning show co-host on "The Andie Summers Show" on 92.5 XTU, Philly's Country Station. He's the nationally syndicated show host of "Jeff Kurkjian's Country Beat." As a content creator for 92.5 XTU he shares his perspective of being a dad, husband, country music and sports, specifically baseball.

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