Couch-Potato Cheetahs Take to the Fast Track : Animals: Lars and Vince had become flabby--hardly a credit to their heritage. So the National Zoo designed an exercise program for them.
In a burst of acceleration that would shame the world’s fastest cars, Lars hits the curving, hilly track, his legs a honey-blond blur.
His brother, Vince, watches for a few seconds before joining in, reaching 35 m.p.h. in seconds as he chases a lure on a nylon string. Their feet pounding the ground sound like thoroughbreds on a straightaway--and indeed, these two cheetahs achieve world-record horse-racing speed, although they are out of shape and run on an uneven, grassy slope.
The runs take place at 9:45 a.m. several times a week at the newest exhibit at the National Zoo. Cheetah specialist Stuart Wells created the 200-yard course to exercise the two adult male cheetahs now living in a fenced area next-door to two cheetah cubs.
But the track is also exceeding expectations for its secondary role: giving visitors a chance to see the world’s fastest cats in action.
The fastest cheetahs reach 70 m.p.h.--double the speed of Lars and Vince. Yet even these two couch potatoes regularly beat man’s best speed for the 100-meter dash, despite a twisting course that is changed nearly every time they run.
Cheetahs are fast because their legs are long and their shoulder blades are independent actors, unconnected to their collarbones. Mike Barrowman, a gold medalist in swimming at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, said he improved by watching a videotape of a cheetah running--the way its shoulders come up and its head stretches forward.
As for acceleration, cheetahs beat the fastest times of the very best cars on the consumer market, reaching 45 m.p.h. from a standing start in just 2.5 seconds.
To come anywhere close, a driver would have to buy a $205,000 Ferrari 512 Testarossa. With a 421-horsepower, 12-cylinder, 5-liter engine, the Testarossa can go from zero to 60 m.p.h. in 4.7 seconds.
A simple plastic bag is what lures the zoo cheetahs to attempt their personal best. A simple battery-powered car engine pulls the lure along at speeds of more than 35 m.p.h. The contraption, which features pulleys that draw the string attached to the lure, was invented to exercise hunting dogs.
During a recent weekend run, the crowd gasped when 85-pound Vince twice careened out of control up a curving hill. Although the cheetah’s quick turning speed is legendary, Vince twice missed the same curve and somersaulted, landing on his feet just inches from a fence.
Lars tended to compete with somewhat less enthusiasm. Like an intelligent house cat, he often took the easy way out by giving up the chase and waiting for the lure to come around again before deigning to run an additional 60 yards or so.
Before long, both cats collapsed and watched with an uninterested air as the lure sped by them.
When Wells and an assistant enter the cats’ grassy area to lay out a course, they each carry only a broomstick. Wells said cheetahs respect height dominance, although he knows that if he were to fall or bend down, he could trigger their attack instinct.
Wells’ goal is for each cheetah to run a 70-foot straightaway twice during each workout. The goal and the workout schedule--currently two days of exercise, one day of rest--will be increased as the cheetahs grow fit.
