Ayumba Ayodi
2 November 2009
Nairobi — The world's fastest man has met something he won't be able to outrun -- his new adopted cheetah cub.
Usain Bolt and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday launched a new programme to protect wildlife in a partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service.
Mr Bolt and Mr Odinga each adopted animals from the famous orphanage in announcing the new endowment fund.
Kenya Wildlife Service is seeking to raise from the fund $100 million (Sh7.5 billion) by 2020 for wildlife and environment conservation efforts.
Mr Bolt, the Jamaican track star who holds the world record for fastest time in the 100-metre sprint, adopted a fitting pet. The cheetah is the world's fastest mammal. He named the three-month-old cheetah "Lightening Bolt" to cheers.
And it came as no surprise when Mr Odinga named his adopted eight-month-old lion cub, "Agwambo" to another round of applause.
Another track star, Britain's former 110-metre hurdles world record holder, Mr Colin Jackson, adopted another animal known for its leaping ability -- a four-year-old eland.
And Mr Odinga's daughter, Winnie, adopted an eight-month-old lioness.
The adoption process seems to have left Mr Bolt a changed man.
Fear no more
"I will fear no more the wild animals," he said as he cuddled his new pet. Mr Bolt had expressed a fear of wildlife before he travelled to Kenya as an environmental ambassador for the Zeitz Foundation.
For his part, Mr Odinga said Kenya's wildlife was under severe threat of extinction. The PM praised the Zeitz Foundation for using sports in their conservation initiatives.
The Zeitz Foundation was launched in Kenya on Friday.
Mr Odinga used the event to criticise those who have degazetted Kenyan forests saying it had hastened the human and wildlife conflicts.
He said the government has moved swiftly to protect the remaining forest cover and affirmed that those who will be affected by the wildlife be compensated adequately.
"Our diversity both the environment and wildlife are under serious threat," Mr Odinga said, adding: "Competition for pasture between the wildlife and human beings is hurting both sides. Hence the right mechanism must be put in place to arrest this before it's too late."
Mr Odinga praised Kenya Wildlife Service director Julius Kipng'etich for his efforts.
"His leadership has made a big difference," the PM said. "Hence every Kenyan must play his part to protect our heritage."
The Minister of Wildlife and Forestry, Dr Noah Wekesa, said that the new fund alone will not be able to protect Kenya's Big Five -- lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard and rhino. He urged Kenyans to assist.
Mr Kipng'etich said the adoption was the start of a long journey that will ensure wild animals are preserved for future generations to see. He said Kenyans can contribute to the fund by adopting or co-adopting wild animals.
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