What's the fastest animal in the world? We all know that cheetahs are rather speedy, clocking in at just over 70 miles (120 km) per hour. But is there something that is faster?

On land? No. In the sky? Absolutely.

Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) can travel at speeds reaching 241 miles (389 km) per hour. Of course, they aren't running when they do this; they are diving. In order to measure just how fast this is, veterinarian Steve Leonard took to the skies and launched himself from a hot air balloon. He brought a falcon lure (and a falcon, of course) along for the ride, The falcon seen here, named Lady, trained for six years to pursue a special lure to receive a food reward; however, getting her to do this was a little bit more difficult. It required an additional 6 months of training to make sure she was up to the job.

WATCH:"Falcon Vs Skydiver - Ultimate Killers - BBC"

SEE NEXT: "The Fastest Moving Organism on the Planet Stinks (It Really Does)"


Share This Article