Cheetahs to be featured on National Geographic

[Octobers Fade]

I was lucky enough to go today which turned out to be the first day that the National Geographic Channel was filming Cheetah Run.

They built a wall for the cheetahs to run in front of, a mere 59 MPH.

Poor thing got the line caught in its claws after it caught the feathers they use to entice the Cheetah to "chase" and had to have the trainer help to get free.

The trainers said they would be shooting there again in May and have been there before.


So there you have it in the fall it will be on Nat Geo Wild.

 

[bobwadd]

HEAR ME ROARRR!

NAT GEO WILD’S FOURTH ANNUAL BIG CAT WEEK

ROARS OFF FRIDAY, NOV. 29


Bringing Together Nature’s Biggest and Baddest Cats with Entertainment’s Biggest Names Including Specials with NFL Superstars, the Best Big Cat Filmmakers in the World … and Betty White!


Fourth Annual BIG CAT WEEK Kicks Off with Man v. Cheetah on

Friday, November 29, 2013, at 9 PM ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD


(WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 4, 2013) They are nature’s most majestic predators that face more danger than they pose. All members of the world’s big cat species, including lions, tigers, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars and more are known for their incredible strength, speed, agility and beauty. And this November, Nat Geo WILD will once again welcome them into our homes to give them their turn in the spotlight.

Beginning Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, at 9 pm ET/PT, Nat Geo WILD presents the FOURTH ANNUAL BIG CAT WEEK, the network’s most-watched week for the past three years, to dramatically showcase the world’s most extraordinary big cat species. Kicking off this year’s week with Nat Geo WILD is Man v. Cheetah with Tennessee Titans’ Chris Johnson — the NFL’s fastest running back — and Chicago Bears’ Devin Hester — the super-agile wide receiver and kick returner — both taking part in an extraordinary challenge to literally go one-on-one in a first-ever race with a cheetah at Busch Gardens Tampa’s Cheetah Run attraction. To prepare the cheetahs for the race, Busch Gardens Tampa trainers used training techniques to help familiarize the cats with new experiences, such as running next to a trainer separated by an 11-foot wall, and cameras high above the habitat. A month before race day, the trainers began working with the cheetahs conducting sprints using the same motorized lure system they were already using to stimulate the cats’ natural instinct to chase.

Additionally, National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence and renowned filmmakers Beverly & Dereck Joubert present another stunning film from the bushes of Africa, Game of Lions; and big cat wrangler Boone Smith goes deep into a mysterious battle raging in the American heartland in Cougar v. Wolf. And our favorite cougar, Betty White, also joins us this week in her special, Betty White Goes Wild!


It’s a cat-eat-cat world lineup!

---

Man v. Cheetah

Premieres Friday, November 29, 2013, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Take nature’s fastest land mammal vs. two of the quickest and most elusive athletes in all of professional sports: who wins ... and what shocking secrets are revealed? Nat Geo WILD gets a front row seat as the Tennessee Titans’ Chris Johnson — the NFL’s fastest running back — and the Chicago Bears’ Devin Hester — the super-agile wide receiver and kick returner — take part in an extraordinary first-ever one-on-one challenge against a cheetah. It’s the race of a lifetime that has never been attempted before as cheetahs from Busch Gardens Tampa’s Cheetah Run attraction race NFL’s finest. Who will win? Could a human beat the animal kingdom’s fastest cat? Anything is possible.

 

[bobwadd]

A few photo's from BGT's Media Department . . .

Busch Gardens Tampa’s cheetah takes a break during the filming of “Man v. Cheetah.” The race between two of the National Football League’s fastest athletes and nature’s fastest land mammals was filmed at Busch Gardens® Tampa and will premiere on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD.

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson prepares to race Busch Gardens® Tampa’s cheetahs at the park’s Cheetah Run habitat.

Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears warms up for his race against one of the World’s fastest land mammals. The star wide receiver raced at Busch Gardens Tampa’s Cheetah Run habitat for “Man v. Cheetah". For the challenge, Busch Gardens and Nat Geo WILD partnered to build a walled enclosure in Busch Gardens’ Cheetah habitat so the athletes and the cheetahs could run side-by-side safely.

 

[Teebin]

^ Those cats are so friggin beautiful. Too bad one can rarely see the cheetahs at AK's KS.

 

[bobwadd]

A little promo video . . .

[video=youtube;XBLH0caBoCU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBLH0caBoCU[/video]

 

[bobwadd]

NFL ALL-STARS RACE BUSCH GARDENS CHEETAHS IN NAT GEO WILD’S MAN V. CHEETAH

TAMPA, FL – Later this month, Nat Geo WILD will debut a never-before-seen race between two of the National Football League’s fastest athletes and nature’s fastest land mammal in the premiere of “Man v. Cheetah,” filmed at Busch Gardens® Tampa. Premiering Friday, Nov. 29 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD, “Man v. Cheetah” will kick off the Fourth Annual Big Cat Week for Nat Geo WILD, the network’s most-watched week.

Running back Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears' wide receiver Devin Hester raced two of Busch Gardens’ fastest cheetahs, Jenna and Nave, earlier this year in the park’s Cheetah Run habitat. For the challenge, Busch Gardens and Nat Geo WILD partnered to build a walled enclosure in Busch Gardens’ Cheetah habitat so the athletes and the cheetahs could run side-by-side safely.

According to NFL records, Chris Johnson is considered the fastest player in the NFL and Devin Hester holds the league’s all-time record for most kicks and punts returned for touchdowns.

During the race, park guests watched as the cheetahs dashed across their 220-foot sprint path for the race. The NFL athletes ran two different exercises on the other side of the safety wall. Johnson’s challenge was based on shear speed and included a back-and-forth stretch on the sprint path. Hester’s challenge highlighted his agility and required him and his cheetah competitor to run four lengths of the sprint, changing direction three times.

Additional programming to air during Nat Geo WILD’s Big Cat Week includes Betty White in “Betty White Goes Wild!,” National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence and renowned filmmakers Beverly & Dereck Joubert’s film, “Game of Lions,” and big cat wrangler Boone Smith hosts, “Cougar v. Wolf.” Additional premieres include, “Killer Queen,” “Super Cat,” “Swamp Lions,” “Cat Wars,” “The Last Lions,” “Built for Kill: Lions,” “Tiger Dynasty,” “Lion Army,” “Cheetah: Fatal Instinct” and “Lion Battle Zone.”

About the cheetahs, Jenna and Nave

The cheetahs Jenna and Nave can be seen daily at Busch Gardens’ Cheetah Run exhibit near the Cheetah Hunt® rollercoaster. Both Jenna and Nave were born in 2010 at the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre in De Wildt, South Africa. They arrived at Busch Gardens in January 2011 with five other young female cheetahs. Jenna loves attention and is often heard purring or chirping with excitement. Nave is described as an “easy going” cheetah that is very comfortable in new situations, which made her the perfect cheetah for this race. Both cheetahs have been clocked at reaching 62 mph while running on the 220-foot sprinting track in their habitat at Busch Gardens.

The cheetah habitat at Busch Gardens Tampa and other accredited zoological facilities inform millions of guests every year about the plight of the cheetah as endangered species in Africa and cheetah conservation. The SeaWorld® & Busch Gardens® Conservation Fund supports several cheetah projects, including the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia and Cheetah Outreach in South Africa.

 

[neoshinok]

Cool Bob! I think it's funny they're marketing this as a legit 'race'. These guys may run a 4.2 40yd dash, but the cheetah can do that in half the time. But I'll still watch:doggie: [video=youtube;rJhTd-r4QhM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJhTd-r4QhM[/video]