Environment

Usain Bolt Adopts Cheetah Cub: Fastest Man Meets Fastest Animal

by Scott Wu | November 2, 2009 at 10:57 am

543 views | 0 Recommendations | 2 comments

World sprint champion Usain Bolt adopted a cheetah cub in Kenya's Nairobi National Park on Monday. The head of Kenya Wildlife Service described it as "the first time in history where the fastest animal and the fastest man will meet."

Usain Bolt had said in the past that he was afraid of cheetahs because they could out-run him. Bolt's fear was not irrational considering cheetahs can achieve a running speed of 120 km/h (or 75 mph). At the event, Bolt changed his mind as he bottle-fed the cub and named the cub Lightning Bolt.

Cheetahs are listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as vulnerable species, due to habitat loss and competition with other carnivores, like lion and hyena.

The decline is primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as killing and capture of cheetahs as livestock depredators, primarily, as well as for trade

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga was also present at the event.

Odinga used the occasion to remind Kenyans that it was their "civic duty" to preserve the country's diverse wildlife, not just for tourism, but for future generations.

He described the event as a "refreshing" opportunity to talk about sport and wildlife conservation rather than politics, in a country that has faced huge political challenges in recent years.

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Ted daly (not verified)

at 11:45 on November 2nd, 2009

Every news organization is reporting that the cheetah is the "world's fastest animal." In fact, a cheetah is only about one-third as fast as the fastest animal: the peregrine falcon, or duck hawk. they can achieve speeds over 200mph (320 kph). they are pretty fast, though, in short bursts.

shawn morris (not verified)

at 09:40 on November 3rd, 2009

I'm a jamaican and i'm so proud of our son Usain wish u could take the pet home but anyway love the cause of promoting wildlife go bolt. next time u visit hope to see a race with you and ur adopted son