Bolt - The Big Cat Sanctuary

Bolt


Acinonyx Jubatus/CheetahVulnerable

Interesting facts about Bolt

  • Bolt and his three siblings, including Mo, were born at Longleat Safari Park on 1st August 2018
  • Bolt and his brother Mo are part of the co-ordinated breeding programme to help maintain genetic diversity within the captive population
  • These two brothers are truly magnificent to see, sitting together up high on the rocks in their enclosure
  • Bolt has a rounder shaped face than his brother Mo
  • Bolt and Mo arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary on International Cheetah Day - 4 December 2023
  • We're hoping that either Bolt or Mo - whoever Willow is more taken with! - will sire cubs with her in the future!

Bolt's story


Bolt and his brother Mo were born on 1 August 2018, part of a litter of four cheetahs at Longleat Safari Park. These two magnificent brothers arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary on International Cheetah Day, 4 December 2023.

The brothers have a breeding recommendation as potential breeding partners for the Sanctuary’s resident female cheetah, Willow. Willow is five years old and definitely ready to take her place in the breeding programme by producing cubs!

Adopt Bolt

About cheetahs


The cheetah is the planet’s fastest land animal, capable of reaching speeds of up to 68mph with a stride of seven metres. However,  it is also Africa’s most endangered wild cat. There are estimated to be only seven thousand cheetahs left in the wild today.

Cheetahs have a narrow and lightweight body, long slender limbs, and a coat covered in single spotted markings.  With their distinctive tear-drop facial markings, the cheetah is one of the most easily identifiable cats.

Their ability to run so fast can only be maintained for a short period of time. Adaptations which help cheetahs to run at these speeds include a flexible spine and tail, which flattens at the tip to provide a counter balance for sudden changes in direction, acting like a rudder). Their hard footpads and semi-retractable blunt claws help them to grip the ground, similar to how a sprinter’s running spikes help them to increase speed.

Adopt Bolt

About cheetahs


The future of this magnificent species remains uncertain across their range. Extinct in 25 countries and possibly extinct in a further 13 countries, cheetahs have vanished from approximately 91 percent of their historic range. They are extinct in Asia apart from a single, isolated population of perhaps 50 individuals in central Iran. Cheetahs are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

Cheetah have larger litters of cubs than many other species, which may be due to the high mortality rate of cubs in their habitats. They are never at the top of the food chain within their range, so these cats are more passive and much more likely to walk away from confrontation than to fight. These agile cats hunt during the day to avoid competition from other powerful predators such as lions, hyenas and leopards. Their tear marks absorb light to protect their eyes from the sun’s glare in exactly the same way as wearing a pair of shades! Cheetahs prey on rabbits, warthogs, springboks, gazelles and birds.

Adopt Bolt
IUCN Red List Category Vulnerable(VU)

Other cats like Bolt

View All