• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Lost Prairie Press

Lost Prairie Press

Trending News from the Midwest - IA, IL, KS, MO, NE

  • Home
  • MIDWEST
  • ILLINOIS
  • IOWA
  • KANSAS
  • MISSOURI
  • NEBRASKA
  • About Us
    • Contact Us

Watch Now: Shows go on at Lincoln Children’s Zoo, and cheetahs will set the pace

{{featured_button_text}}

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, chases a lure in the cheetah run on at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, is rewarded with meat for responding to commands from ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

Cheetah run

Shaded seating for 200 people flanks the cheetah run at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, rounds a corner in the 200-foot run at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, responds to commands from ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel in the cheetah run at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

Peter Salter

The Lincoln Children’s Zoo waited for more than a year to share this spectacle of speed.

But don’t blink, because after it starts with a 3-2-1 countdown — gate opens, dog toy takes off, cheetah gives chase — it’s all over in just a few seconds.

The daily cheetah show will debut Wednesday in the 200-foot run — built atop the zoo’s former parking lot — next to a shaded, 200-seat amphitheater.

“Cheetahs can go from zero to 60 (mph) in under three seconds,” Sarah Johanson, an ambassador animal keeper, said during a rehearsal Monday. “They are super-fast to be able to go ahead and catch their prey.”

In the wild, cheetahs can reach speeds of 50 to 80 mph; at the zoo, they likely approach 35 to 40 mph running a nearly 400-foot lap, said ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel.

And they’ll show off their speed each day at 10:30 a.m. The zoo will alternate the performances of its four cheetahs, running a different animal every day to keep them healthy.

‘We’re ready for babies’ — New additions, new breeding hopes for Lincoln’s growing giraffe herd

Before they run, though, guests will get a crash course in the physiology that makes them the fastest land animal.

Johanson went through the script Monday, moments before Bella, a 10-year-old who moved to the zoo from Columbus, Ohio, took the grassy stage.

Unlike most cat species, cheetah claws are only semi-retractable, so they’re always available to serve as cleats, giving them traction. Their tails double as rudders, helping them turn on a dime to catch elusive prey. Their oversized nasal cavities allow more oxygen.

And their flexible spines let them cover up to 20 feet per stride. “As she’s running, her legs will fully extend — front legs in front, back legs in back — and all of a sudden when completing a stride, her legs will cross underneath her and her back is going to go ahead and move upward.”

You’re going to notice some of this, Johanson said, when Bella runs.

At Lincoln Children’s Zoo, it took a team to raise a monkey

But it was hard, because Bella was a blur of fur after the gate opened and a winch-reeled string pulled her favorite toy around the run, staying just slightly ahead of her until the end.

“That is one of her most prized possessions in the whole wild world,” Johanson said, watching the cheetah finally catch up to it. “And she’s got it.”

The show wasn’t over yet. After the run, Hazel brought Bella up to the fence, within feet of the seats, and demonstrated the results of their training. With commands, prompts and treats, Hazel had the big cat heel, sit, walk beside her, lay down and lay on her side.

Support Local Journalism

Your membership makes our reporting possible.

{{featured_button_text}}

The zoo built the run and adjacent cheetah habitat in 2019 as part of the second phase of its roughly $20 million expansion. It first welcomed three young sisters, Sita, Saba and Nane (Seven, Eight and Nine in Swahili), from the Saint Louis Zoo in October 2019, and then Bella in February 2020.

What’s new at Lincoln zoo? Avocado-loving anteaters, an abstract elephant and the fastest show on four legs

The cheetah run is one of just six in the nation, said Children’s Zoo Chairman and CEO John Chapo, and you’d have to travel 750 miles to find another one like it.

Zoo officials had hoped to unveil the shows last spring, but the pandemic changed their plans: The zoo was closed for 80 days before reopening with attendance limits and other conditions — including no shows.

Wild Safari Theater

With giraffes watching in the background, ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel practices a show with Waldo, a 6-year-old African grey parrot, in the Wild Safari Theater at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department approved shows with partial capacity months ago, but the zoo decided to wait until all restrictions were lifted, spokeswoman Sarah Wood said.

So starting Wednesday, in addition to the daily Cheetah Chase, the zoo will also host daily animal encounters at the Penguin Pool and Wild Safari Theater.

“We want our guests to engage, enjoy and learn,” Chapo said.

The first-come, first-seated shows won’t cost visitors anything extra, and the zoo expects about 55,000 to attend a show in the next 12 months.

Daily showtimes at the zoo

* Cheetah Chase: 10:30 a.m.

* Wildlife Safari Theater: Noon, 2 p.m. (and 6 p.m. Wednesdays)

Animals include: prehensile tail porcupines; macaws; armadillos; serval cats; sloths; kookaburras; alligators.

* Penguin Pool: 11 a.m., 3 p.m.

All shows included with cost of admission

‘Tesla-like’ — Jim the (electric) Train to soon pull passengers at Lincoln Children’s Zoo

Photos: Cheetahs prepare for first show at Lincoln Children’s Zoo

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, rounds a corner in the 200-foot run at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, prowls the cheetah enclosure on Monday at Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, is rewarded with meat for responding to commands from ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, responds to commands from ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel in the cheetah run on Monday at Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, chases a lure in the cheetah run at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, responds to commands from ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel in the cheetah run at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, chases a lure in the cheetah run on at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, chases a lure in the cheetah run at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, chases a lure in the cheetah run at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, responds to commands from ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel in the cheetah run at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

10-year-old Bella chases her dog toy Monday in the Lincoln Children’s Zoo cheetah run. The zoo will start giving cheetah shows at 10:30 a.m. daily.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, chases a lure in the cheetah run on at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Bella, a 10-year-old cheetah, is responds to commands from ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel in the cheetah run at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Amphitheatre seating flanks the cheetah run near the Ellie the Elephant play structure at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Cheetah run

Cheetah run

Shaded seating for 200 people flanks the cheetah run at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Wild Safari Theater

Wild Safari Theater

With giraffes watching in the background, ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel practices a show with Waldo, a 6-year-old African Grey parrot, in the Wild Safari Theater on Monday at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Wild Safari Theater

Wild Safari Theater

With giraffes watching in the background, ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel practices a show with Waldo, a 6-year-old African Grey parrot, in the Wild Safari Theater on Monday at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Wild Safari Theater

Wild Safari Theater

Lincoln, NE – 6/14/2021 – With giraffes watching in the background, ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel practices a show with Waldo, a 6-year-old African Grey parrot, in the Wild Safari Theater on Monday, June 14, 2021, at Lincoln Children’s Zoo. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Wild Safari Theater

Wild Safari Theater

With giraffes watching in the background, ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel practices a show with Waldo, a 6-year-old African grey parrot, in the Wild Safari Theater at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Wild Safari Theater

Wild Safari Theater

With giraffes watching in the background, ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel practices a show with Waldo, a 6-year-old African Grey parrot, in the Wild Safari Theater on Monday at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Wild Safari Theater

Wild Safari Theater

Ambassador animal supervisor Emma Hazel practices a show with Waldo, a 6-year-old African Grey parrot, in the Wild Safari Theater on June 14 at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. 

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Reach the writer at 402-473-7254 or psalter@journalstar.com.

On Twitter @LJSPeterSalter

0 Comments

Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily.

View Source

Filed Under: NEBRASKA

Primary Sidebar

More to See

presenting-adventhealth-broadway-series-at-starlight-theatre-2023

Presenting AdventHealth Broadway Series at Starlight Theatre 2023

Menu Best of KC Frequently Asked Questions Best of Kansas City 2022 Winners News Longform Politics Sports Only in KC Food & Drink Food News Restaurant Reviews Beer, Wine, … [Read More...] about Presenting AdventHealth Broadway Series at Starlight Theatre 2023

42-essential-sweets-in-kc,-from-bonbons-to-apple-fritters

42 essential sweets in KC, from bonbons to apple fritters

February is short but sweet. This month, we share our picks for the city’s best bonbons and a lot of other unique sweets that are baked, dipped and drizzled to perfection. By Dawnya Bartsch, Martin … [Read More...] about 42 essential sweets in KC, from bonbons to apple fritters

our-five-favorite-bonbons-in-kc

Our five favorite bonbons in KC

Photo by Caleb Condit and Rebecca Norden It’s Valentine’s Day month, but fancy chocolate deserves to be enjoyed year-round. We visited chocolatiers around the … [Read More...] about Our five favorite bonbons in KC

oppd-launches-transparency-website

OPPD launches transparency website

Posted on December 1, 2022 Overland Park now has more access to information about its Police Department than ever, thanks to a library of online transparency-focused … [Read More...] about OPPD launches transparency website

city-council-approves-2023-strategic-goals

City Council approves 2023 strategic goals

Posted on December 20, 2022 The Overland Park City Council has formally approved a set of strategic goals for the upcoming year. City Manager Lori Curtis Luther proposed the … [Read More...] about City Council approves 2023 strategic goals

Footer

WELCOME!

Thanks for visiting Lost Prairie Press!

We hope you’ll enjoy news and perspective from the Midwest – specifically, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Missouri.

About/Contact

Privacy Policy

Recent

  • Presenting AdventHealth Broadway Series at Starlight Theatre 2023
  • 42 essential sweets in KC, from bonbons to apple fritters
  • Our five favorite bonbons in KC

Search

Copyright © 2023 · Lost Prairie Press