Cat Ambassador Program

Alexa Retires

Anatolian Shepherd “Alexa” came to the Cat Ambassador Program when she was 8 weeks old in January 2000 to be a companion and playmate for cheetah “Sahara”. Though it was not play at first sight Sahara and Alexa soon became good friends and excellent playmates. They also became good travel buddies, sharing the cheetah conservation story across Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky to students and conservation enthusiasts.

During her time here, Alexa helped to educate hundreds of thousands of school children and zoo visitors. Now, at almost 10 years old, Alexa is ready to retire from the ambassador life. She will be leaving the program in August to live with a trainer who raised her. Alexa plans to spend her retirement lounging on the sofa, playing in the yard and of course, taking long naps. Anatolian shepherds CJ and Pow Wow, now 6 and 2, will take over all Anatolian ambassador responsibilities, including school programs and summer shows. They have big paws to fill!

Cheetah Encounter at the Zoo

Come see the cats in action, literally! Cheetah running demonstrations available to to the public. And the Cat Show is newly renovated! No registration required.

When are the Cheetah Encounters?

• May 29- September 6, 11:00 am & noon- No shows on Wednesday or Thursday

 

The Traveling Cat Ambassador Program

We will also schedule a 45-minute Educational Assembly which brings a cheetah and several of our other small cat ambassadors to your school. Every effort will be made to insure that students have the opportunity to see the cats up close. However, due to the nature of wild cats, students will not be permitted to "pet" our animals.

Questions? or to register contact the Cat Show at (513) 475-6176 or email catshow@cincinnatizoo.org

Who can participate?

• K-12th grade and Adults.
• Groups of all sizes are accommodated.

When is the Cat Show available?

• October- April, call for availability. Evening programs by special arrangement.

How much does it cost to bring the Cat Show to your school?

• First assembly $300, second assembly on the same day, $150.
• Weekend, non-school or evening programs start at $800.

Standards for Schools

Cat Ambassador Program - OH Academic Standards (PDF)

Cat Ambassador Program - KY Academic Standards (PDF)

Cat Ambassador Program - IN Academic Standards (PDF)

Pre & Post Activities

These guides are designed to supplement traveling Cat Ambassador Programs.

A Voice for the Cheetah- Grades K-6 (PDF)

Meet the Cheetah- Grades K-2 (PDF)

Cheetah Days

Follow the newest members of the Cat Ambassador Program. Learn more about Tommy T. and other cheetah cubs as they grow up and learn what it means to be a Cat Ambassador!

 

Cincinnati Zoo Cheetah Breaks World Record

Runs 6.16 Seconds in Her First Attempt

“Sarah,” the Cincinnati Zoo’s eight-year-old female cheetah, is now the world’s fastest of all land mammals. Sarah earned her spot in the record book when she crossed the finish line in the 100-meter sprint with a time of 6.16 seconds in her very first attempt, breaking the previous mark of 6.19 seconds set by a male South African cheetah named Nyana in 2001. Then, in her second attempt she broke her own record with a time of 6.13 seconds. (For comparison, the Fastest Human on Earth, Jamaican Sprinter Usain bolt, recently posted a 9.58 in the 100-meter dash.)

"Sarah is a wonderful animal and a wonderful symbol of hope for all cheetahs," said Cathryn Hilker,
Founder of the Cincinnati Zoo’s Cat Ambassador Program. “It’s really great for Sarah to have the honor as the fastest in the world, but I also hope this record-breaking run helps to raise awareness of the plight of the cheetah.” Cheetahs are built for speed. Their flexible spine allows their front legs to stretch far forward on each stride, covering 20 to 22 feet in one stride, about the same distance as a racehorse. But cheetahs are so much faster—the fastest racehorse runs 43 miles per hour, while cheetahs can run at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. Cheetahs are off the ground more than half of their running time! Their claws are hard and sharp like cleats, giving them great traction when they run.

Cheetahs are endangered and their population worldwide has shrunk from about 100,000 in 1900 to an
estimated 9,000 – 12,000 cheetahs today. The Cincinnati Zoo has been dubbed “The Cheetah Capital of the World” because of its conservation efforts through education, public interpretation, and the captive cheetah breeding program. The Zoo’s Regional Cheetah Breeding Center is one of only four similar facilities in the United States managed by the Species Survival Plan. Since 2007, four out of only eight cheetah cub litters born in North America were born in Cincinnati, more than anywhere else in the world. In total, there have been 37 cheetah cubs born in Cincinnati.

Since 1980 the Cincinnati Zoo’s “Cat Ambassador Program” has taken African cheetahs to schools and programs around the U.S, Canada, and Central America to spread the word that cheetahs are running for their lives. In addition, each summer the Zoo takes 22 school teachers to the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s headquarters in Namibia for a two-week conservation field study. Since 1990 the Cincinnati Zoo’s “Angel Fund,” named after our first cheetah ambassador, “Angel,” has directly supported cheetah conservation in Africa. From South African & Namibia in the south, up through Kenya & Tanzania in East Africa, The Angel Fund has contributed more than $1 million in support for cheetahs in the wild.

Learn more about the Run for the Record (PDF)

Supported by a generous donation from the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust