Usain Bolt adopts baby cheetah
The world's fastest man adopted the animal kingdom's fastest sprinter Monday, as Usain Bolt welcomed a new baby cheetah named "Lightning Bolt" into his life, the Associated Press reports.
The Jamaican sprinter's sponsorship of the three-month-old male cheetah is part of an effort to boost Kenyan conservation efforts of its famous wildlife, whose survival is threatened by trophy hunting, climate change and human encroachment.
The world record-holder in the 100 and 200 meters paid $13,700 to formally adopt the cub. He will also pay $3,000 a year to care for Lighting Bolt, who will be raised at an animal orphanage in Nairobi.
The money will go to the Kenya Wildlife Service, and some will be used to protect Kenya's endangered species, KWS director Julius Kipngetich said.
Comments
I love your caring instinct Usain Bolt. I have highlighted the need to protect kenyan wildlife in my latest book, "110 year old father: dreams, hope and triumph..from barack obama's motherland." Let's get together, defend and sustain the best wildlife spectacle in the world...
Posted by: david | November 3, 2009 12:24 PM
Guess he's gotta race SOMETHING...
Posted by: M | November 3, 2009 1:05 PM
Upon reading the headline to this piece I was ready to condemn Usain Bolt for selfishly adopting a member of a threatened species for his own amusement. Shame on me. After reading the complete story I now see that Mr. Bolt has done an admirable thing and I sincerely hope his actions will help end the senseless abuse these beautiful creatures endure. Thank you Mr. Bolt. More power to you.
Posted by: Doug Ray | November 3, 2009 1:17 PM
It's very admirable when people of such notarity use their fame to do great deeds. There are many rescues and foster facilities around the country, and no where near enough attention place on their importance.. www.HorseRescueRelief.org
Posted by: Troy | November 3, 2009 1:19 PM
The cheetah is a magnificent animal.... a dash of lightning bolt on the African Savannah as it so gracefully chases and brings down its prey. An althlete like Bolt can definitely relate to the asthetics of this great cat...
A very relevant and apprpriate adoption.
Posted by: shiva | November 3, 2009 10:22 PM
I had the EXACT same reaction as Doug did and it was a very good lesson in reading completely before judging. I wasn't particularly a Bolt fan before, but I surely am now! Awesome...I hope more influential people follow his lead!
Posted by: Nicholas Sadaka | November 4, 2009 1:50 PM
I think he is a trend setter. First he makes a record and then goes on breaking his own records. The latest one is adopting a cheetah and named it Lightening Bolt". I see quite a similarity between the two being the fastest animal in their respective species.
Posted by: Nintendo DS Games | November 5, 2009 11:42 PM