By Alex Kiprotich

Since Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, adopted his equivalent in the jungle, a cheetah, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has lined up more animals for adoption. The adoption at the Nairobi orphanage and Safari walk is meant to conserve wildlife and diversify KWS revenue base.

In the programme, there are more than 50 animals for adoption. Each of the animals has different traits, which allow people to choose according to their character, personalities and careers. Bolt adopted a three-month-old cheetah.

"This is a statement and not coincidence. Cheetahs are the fastest of animals and currently Bolt is the fastest man," said KWS Corporate Affairs Manager Paul Udoto.

The symbolism

The cheetah can sprint up to 70 miles per hour over short distances. Bolt holds the world record in 100 and 200 metres.

Former 110-metre hurdles Olympic champion Colin Jackson, who accompanied Bolt in his four-day visit, adopted a two-year-old eland.

Udoto said the adoption of the eland by Jackson is symbolic to his career. Though the animal is considered slowest of the antelope family, it has endurance and can jump up to eight foot high.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who launched the programme dubbed Namayiana Wildlife Adoption, adopted a lion cub and named it ‘Agwambo’ — his nickname. Lion is a symbol of power, courage and nobility.

His daughter Rosemary adopted a lioness, which was named ‘Safi’.

KWS Senior Animal Keeper Margaret Aiyabei said the animals for adoption are those that were orphaned, sick or rescued by KWS personnel.

Old animals are also adopted. Aiyabei said the cub and the cheetah adopted by Raila and Bolt had been abandoned in Samburu.

On the list of 62 animals for adoption is a pigmy hippo, which was a gift to President Jomo Kenyatta by former Liberia President William Tubman.

Other animals include an albino zebra rescued from Naivasha, cheetahs, leopards, Zebras, hyenas, ostriches, African grey parrots, baboons and buffaloes.

For someone to be allowed to adopt an animal, one has to become a member of the KWS animal adoption programme.

"The programme allows for individual and corporate memberships," said Udoto.

He said for individual membership, an annual subscription fee of Sh3,000 for adults and Sh1,200 for children is charged. Corporate members pay Sh50,000. Members have the freedom of picking their favourite animal at the orphanage, free visits to the orphanage and a fact sheet of the adopted animal.

A member is also given priority to participate in Annual Animal Auction, where one can adopt other animals.

Classifications

Adoption fee depends on the animals’ classification. The Big Cats are classified as level one and anyone wishing to adopt one has to pay a fee of Sh10,000. This category includes the lions, cheetahs, leopard and buffaloes.

"When one picks an animal from this category, he is is given a sponsorship certificate and a colour photo of the animal with its story," said Udoto.

The second category includes all carnivores that are not part of the Big Cats, herbivores and primates. An adoption fee of Sh4,000 is paid while in the last category which, includes birds, reptiles, and tortoises, one pays Sh2,000.

KWS Head of Resource Mobilisation Edwin Wanyonyi said the programme is aimed at diversifying revenue base while bonding people with their wildlife.

Bolt, who named the cheetah Lighting Bolt, paid Sh1million to formally adopt the cub and will also pay more than Sh200,000 yearly.