How Fast Are Our Petting Zoo Animals?

Mark your calendars for the eighth annual Raptor Run 5K at the Creation Museum on October 15, 2016! Whether you are an avid runner or a casual walker, this event is sure to be fun for the whole family. As we prepare for the 5K, we started wondering, “How fast can our petting zoo animals run?” Here are the top speeds for four of our animal kinds.

CJ and Gomer

CJ and Gomer are our dromedary camels. A camel that has been properly conditioned can run up to 40 miles per hour. However, they can only do this for short distances, and CJ and Gomer have never gotten anywhere close to that speed! If you plan to enjoy a camel ride during your visit to the Creation Museum, CJ and Gomer take you on a nice stroll around the track. Be sure to check the daily schedule to see if camel rides will be offered during your visit.

Cletus and Zoe

Our petting zoo is home to two different zebra hybrids. Cletus is our zonkey (a zebra and donkey hybrid) and Zoe is our zorse (a zebra and horse hybrid), but all equines are fairly fast. A zebra can run up to 40 miles an hour. Some horses can reach speeds up to 55 miles per hour, while a donkey can run up to 30 miles an hour.

Bandit and Skippy

Our wallabies, Bandit and Skippy, may be small, but they are also very quick. The average wallaby can hop up to 30 miles per hour. Since kangaroos are much larger, however, they can hop up to 40 miles an hour. You can see four of these amazing creatures at our sister attraction, the Ark Encounter.

Mushu

Our resident bearded dragon, Mushu, can, in theory, reach speeds of up to nine miles per hour. While that may seem slow compared to our other petting zoo animals, it is actually quick for a cold-blooded animal. Be on the lookout for your chance to meet Mushu when our petting zoo staff members bring him out and about the museum grounds.

Since animal behaviors are unpredictable, it is hard to say which one of our animals would be the winner if they participated in the Raptor Run! However, to see how fast you can run in this year's event, register now for your chance to take home the top prize in your category. Visit the event page for more information about the Raptor Run 5K.