As we mentioned yesterday, the National Zoo’s three-month-old cheetah cubs finally moved from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va. to the the zoo itself. This morning, the two cubs—one male, one female—made their public debut in the zoo’s Cheetah Conservation Station.
The two spotty cats prowled around their new grassy pitch, climbed some trees and tussled with each other in the yard. As with previous moments in their lives, the day was filled with extraordinary levels of cuteness.
The two cubs were born April 23 in trying circumstances when after the first was born naturally, their mother’s labor ceased, forcing doctors to perform an emergency cesarean section procedure that rescued the second cub. (Two others died.) Since then, veterinarians have raised the cats by hand.
However, the cheetahs are still without names. But the zoo announced the method by which the cubs will receive monikers. Each cheetah will be named for the top male and female U.S. competitors in the 100-meter dash at the Summer Olympic Games in London. Ryan Bailey, Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay will compete to give their name to the male cheetah, while Allyson Felix, Carmelita Jeter and Tianna Madison will race for the female cub’s name.
The cheetahs’ names will go to the top-performing American sprinters regardless of medal placement. But, come on, who wants to be named after someone who came in fifth place? Here’s a chance for our nation’s fastest men and women to leave their marks at the National Zoo. If that’s not Olympic motivation, we don’t know what is. (OK, getting a bunch of money for appearing on the Wheaties box is probably pretty sweet, too.)
But the United States faces a tough order in the 100-meter dash. On the men’s side, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt will be looking to defend his gold medal win from 2008, as will his countrywoman, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. The women’s final heat is scheduled for August 4, with the men’s final the following day.
For now, enjoy these furry, cuddly (maybe?), nameless cheetah cubs.
