6.13 Seconds

September 9, 2009 6:17 PM

A few months ago, The Cincinnati Zoo challenged Cheetah Outreach to a little race. At stake? The future of a species...and bragging rights as the world's fastest mammal.

Sarah, an eight-year-old cheetah from Cincinnati, made the first runs in this race. She set a record of 6.13 second over 100 meters. This shaved about 1/20 of a second off the old record (6.19 seconds). By way of comparison, Usain Bolt covers this distance in a leisurely 9.58 seconds.

South Africa's Cheetah Outreach's competitor, Zaza, will make her runs later this month or early next.
posted by MrGuilt (24 comments total)

She set a record of 6.13 second over 100 meters. By way of comparison, Usain Bolt covers this distance in a leisurely 9.58 seconds.

"So, you wanna increase the ratings for the Olympics? I just had this crazy idea...."
posted by rokusan at 6:28 PM on September 9 [2 favorites has favorites]

OK, so none of the linked articles seemed to indicate how they get the cheetahs to run. This is what I would really like to know. Do they just dangle some meet 100m away? Some kind of dog track-like moving decoy? Are they somehow conditioned to run on command?
posted by axiom at 6:31 PM on September 9

*meat

I hate homonyms.
posted by axiom at 6:32 PM on September 9

I just had this crazy idea....

Yeah, we actually already kinda did that one...

With no sporting appearances to bolster his profile ... he was forced to try to make a living as a sports promoter, essentially an entertainer. ... He also challenged and defeated racehorses although as he revealed later, the trick was to race a high-strung thoroughbred horse that would be frightened by the starter's shotgun and give him a bad jump. Owens once said, "People say that it was degrading for an Olympic champion to run against a horse, but what was I supposed to do? I had four gold medals, but you can't eat four gold medals."
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 6:33 PM on September 9

There was also this cheetah race.

Reminds of the cheetah handlers at the San Diego Zoo, that use dogs as a calming influence on the cheetahs.

When asked them why they needed a cheetah to stay calm, they said, "You wanna try holding onto the leash when the cheetah takes off at 70 mph?"
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 6:37 PM on September 9 [1 favorite has favorites]

By way of comparison, Usain Bolt, who is not a cheetah, covers this distance in a leisurely 9.58 seconds.

Cut the guy some slack.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:41 PM on September 9 [9 favorites has favorites]

axiom, that probably would have helped.

In Cincinnati, they use a fuzzy doggie toy pulled by either a motor or a human. In another post, you can see Tommy T, a younger cheetah, using the set up. Of course, you have to convince the cat to give up the lure.
posted by MrGuilt at 6:48 PM on September 9

Yeah, but I hear there's going to be an inquiry about a questionable sample B from the cheetah. How they got a cheetah to pee in a cup, I'll never know.
posted by maudlin at 6:48 PM on September 9 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'm amazed that Bolt did so well compared to the cheetah. Perhaps they have disparate motivations?
posted by spasm at 6:49 PM on September 9

bragging rights as the world's fastest mammal

. . . among those animals in captivity who are forced to run timed races.
posted by brain_drain at 7:25 PM on September 9

There are rumors that Sarah is really a male cheetah that had been fixed. Genetic tests are underway.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:27 PM on September 9 [1 favorite has favorites]

The sheetah . . . is a heetah?
posted by brain_drain at 7:30 PM on September 9

People only go to cheetah races to see cheetahs crash and burst into flames.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 7:33 PM on September 9 [3 favorites has favorites]

"Yeah, but I hear there's going to be an inquiry about a questionable sample B from the cheetah. How they got a cheetah to pee in a cup, I'll never know."

Couldn't be any worse than a horse.
posted by Mitheral at 7:51 PM on September 9

What are you guys talking about? The third link in has video.
posted by agregoli at 8:17 PM on September 9

Just wanted to say that if you're ever in Cincinnati, the zoo and botanical garden is one of the best in the world and should not be missed.
posted by Mick at 8:31 PM on September 9 [1 favorite has favorites]

Cheetah- Four legs
Usain Bolt- Two legs

Cheetah- Evolved specifically to run. Will starve to death if slow.
Usain Bolt- Can obtain food through evolved human ingenuity such as trapping prey, hunting with a rifle, and using the mighty $20 bill at a grocery store. Unlikely to starve, even if he were to become slow.

Cheetah- Wild animal, endangered species, might kill you.
Usain Bolt- Pretty laid back, part of most dominant species on Earth, will not kill you.

Cheetah- Combined with man, results in Cheetahmen, known for being a notoriously awful video game.
Usain Bolt- Combined with a cheetah, would result in the fastest cavalry the world has ever seen.

Cheetah- 100m in 6.13
Usain Bolt- 100m in 9.58

Well, I suppose the cheetah has to win somewhere.

Serious hat: Cheetahs really are amazing animals. It's a bit of a pity that wind animals are pushed to race, but if a few races can help save a lot of cheetahs, it's a small price to pay.
posted by Saydur at 8:55 PM on September 9 [2 favorites has favorites]

Can I just say that I love that the zoo director said "they hauled ass!" in the video?
posted by HopperFan at 9:58 PM on September 9

My favorite memory of the Beijing Olympics was a piece I saw on tv after Bolt had won gold and set a new record. Apparently he got into trouble from his trainers for going out partying the night before. There was footage of him grinding a girl on a stage at a club in the village.

Thus, I propose a drinking competition between Usain Bolt and two cheetahs. They can settle their racing differences the way we all solve our problems : hungover, the next day.
posted by mannequito at 10:27 PM on September 9 [1 favorite has favorites]

Cheetahs love to run. They are really high-energy beasts. I don't think racing them is in any way abusive, given how it is their nature to run. A young cheetah will run for joy, just like dogs sometimes do. Just lots faster.

Cheetah: pacing back and forth, bored and lonely.
Human: "Hello!" dares pay attention, scratches cheetahs head.
Cheetah: PURRRRRRRRR!!!!!
Human: enters enclosure.
Cheetah: Joy! PURRRR! Oh, look! Shoes and laces and socks! Attack!
Human: laughter
Cheetah: OMG! He knows I was playing! He's COOL! JOY! JOY JOY!
Cheetah: races insanely around the small enclosure, at high speed.
Human: laughs and exits before high-speed collision with playful cheetah may result in grief.

It's a wonderful world that has cheetahs in it. I was looking through some of my photos recently, and saw the shot of the cheetah playing with my shoes and socks. The cheetah was still immature, of course, but not a kitten. He was hand-raised in a private home, so very people-oriented.
posted by Goofyy at 2:08 AM on September 10

saw the shot of the cheetah playing with my shoes and socks.

OK...you can't make a reference like that without sharing!
posted by MrGuilt at 4:12 AM on September 10

MrGuilt: see your MeMail.
posted by Goofyy at 9:49 AM on September 10

By way of comparison, Usain Bolt covers this distance in a leisurely 9.58 seconds.

I wonder how fast Bolt would run with the cheetah behind him.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 8:29 PM on September 10

Late to the thread, but watching the video, did you notice how Sarah's head stays almost perfectly level during her run. All of this motion and movement behind this ominous, floating head.
posted by mrzarquon at 11:35 AM on September 12