WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Captured on tape for the first time, NFL player for the Chicago Bears Devin Hester-- the super-agile wide receiver and kick returner-- outruns a cheetah in the one-on-one race at Busch Gardens Tampa's Cheetah Run attraction. Additionally, Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson-- the NFL's fastest running back-- also gives the cheetah a run for its money.
The races are part of Nat Geo WILD's Man v. Cheetah, which kicked off the network's fourth annual BIG CAT WEEK Friday night. The race can be seen again in a special encore Monday night, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
For more information on BIG CAT WEEK, visit www.natgeowild.com/bigcatweek or follow us on Twitter @NGC_PR.
Full cheetah races of Devin and Chris in below links:
Winning Devin Hester Race:
http://files.natgeonetworks.com/_oL7tE7KZcjCvHR
Chris Johnson Full Race:
http://files.natgeonetworks.com/_Xx7cw5JNYjPvWR
Man v. Cheetah Images:
http://files.natgeonetworks.com/_M6hRIcsR5jcq9R
To prepare the cheetahs for the race, Busch Gardens Tampa trainers used training techniques to help familiarize the cats with new experiences, such as running next to a trainer separated by an 11-foot wall and placing cameras high above the habitat.A month before race day, the trainers began working with the cheetahs conducting sprints using the same motorized lure system they were already using to stimulate the cats' natural instinct to chase.
Man v. Cheetah
SPECIAL ENCORE: Monday, Dec. 2, 2013, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Take nature's fastest land mammal vs. two of the quickest and most elusive athletes in all of professional sports - who wins ... and what shocking secrets are revealed? Nat Geo WILD gets a front row seat as the Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson - the NFL's fastest running back - and the Chicago Bears' Devin Hester - the super-agile wide receiver and kick returner - take part in an extraordinary first-ever one-on-one challenge against a cheetah. It's the race of a lifetime that has never been attempted before as cheetahs from Busch Gardens Tampa's Cheetah Run attraction race NFL's finest.
About Nat Geo WILD
Experience the best, most intimate encounters with wildlife ever seen on television. Backed by its unparalleled reputation for quality and blue-chip programming, Nat Geo WILD is dedicated to providing a unique insight into the natural world, the environment and the amazing creatures that inhabit it. From the most remote environments, to the forbidding depths of our oceans, to the protected parks on our doorsteps, Nat Geo WILD will use spectacular cinematography and compelling storytelling to take viewers on unforgettable journeys into the wild world. Launched in 2006, Nat Geo WILD is part of National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) and is available in more than 90 countries and 100 million homes. Nat Geo WILD HD launched in the U.K. in March 2009, and is also available in Greece, Latin America, Poland, Spain and Russia. Further expansion is expected globally. For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com.
SOURCE Nat Geo WILD
