Sarah became one of our favorite animals,
as we posted about her several times over the years. One of the
cheetahs at the Cincinnati Zoo, Sarah broke the speed record for any
land mammal recorded, twice. In 2009, she covered 100 meters in 6.13
seconds. In 2012, she broke her own record by covering the distance in
5.95 seconds. She attained a speed of over 61 miles per hour! She also
worked as a Cat Ambassador for the zoo, visiting countless schools and
making TV appearances. Sarah
was euthanized Wednesday
at the Cincinnati Zoo at the age of 15. Cheetahs live an average of
eight to twelve years, and Sarah’s quality of life had diminished with
old age. Cathryn Hilker, Sarah’s closest human, wrote
a eulogy for the cheetah. Here’s a small sample of a beautiful story:
She
will be remembered by thousands of school children who heard her loud
purr or heard her nails clicking on the table top where she stayed
during the program. My memories are imprinted in my heart and mind of a
tiny brave little cheetah who grew up and turned into the elegant animal
that the mature cheetah is. The claw marks from her tiny little claws
when she was a cub remain on my bedspread to this day and the hole she
chewed through my zoo jacket and the awkward job I did of sewing it up
will remain there for the rest of my life.
Sarah was preceded in death by her canine companion, Lexi.
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