ligers

Ligers are the offspring of a male lion and a female tiger. They are a hybrid produced primarily in captivity, as lions and tigers do not share a natural habitat in the wild. The term lig er contrasts with the opposite cross, the tigon (or ti-lion), which results from a male tiger breeding with a female lion.

Physical characteristics: Ligers are among the largest cats. Males commonly weigh between 300 and 450 kilograms (660–990 pounds), and some individuals have reportedly weighed more than 900 pounds. Females are smaller. They typically grow longer than either parent due to hybrid vigor and may reach lengths of 9–10 feet excluding the tail. Coat color is generally tawny with tiger-like stripes, often faint or irregular; male ligers may develop a partial mane similar to a lion’s.

Behavior and reproduction: Ligers inherit social tendencies from lions and an ability to tolerate closer contact with people than wild Tigers; in captivity they may be more social than wild tigers. They are usually not found in the wild. Most ligers are sterile, which is common for interspecies hybrids; there have been rare reports of fertile female ligers, but such cases are unusual and not well established.

Taxonomy and conservation: Since ligers are hybrids of two separate species, they are not recognized as a separate species or subspecies. They are bred in zoos, private facilities, and some circuses, where animal welfare concerns are debated; there is little conservation rationale for maintaining hybrids.