Ligue - hybrids of lions and tigers

Hybrids of lions and tigers are called uncomplicated word "ligers". Currently, such cats are the largest in the world, because easily reach a height of 3 meters. Outwardly this animal looks like a giant lion with stripes all over the trunk. Let's talk about ligers in more detail.

The creature of God

Ligris is a hybrid of a lion and a tiger, eaten naturally or artificially. More precisely, it is a cub of a male lion and a female tigress. From the point of view of zoology, the ancestors of this animal belong to the same biological genus (superfamily), but to different species.

It is worth noting that these "nuggets" appear in nature not so often, because the habitats of tigers and lions vary considerably. The former prefer to trample on the lands of India, while the latter prefer the lands of Africa. Therefore, most of the ligers are born in zoos, where their parents are in close contact with each other.

Appearance

Externally, hybrids of lions and tigers are similar to the now extinct cave lions inhabiting the Earth from the time of the Pleistocene epoch. But if you look at the ligra more closely, you can see in it the features of an American lion. It should be noted that the males of these hybrids almost always lack a mane. Unlike ordinary lions, lizards are able and even very fond of swimming.

These creatures take on the features of both mother and father. For example, their backs and sides are densely covered with legendary and characteristic tiger stripes. Some males become happy owners if not manes, then a small nape. All this makes the ligers truly unique and unusual animals!

What is the largest liger in the world?

As already mentioned above, ligers are the largest cats in the world. The biggest hybrid of a lion and a tiger is Hercules! In its size, this giant is noticeably superior to all its relatives. In 2006, he even got into the Guinness Book of Records. Born in 2002 at the Institute for Endangered and Rare Animal Species, located in Miami (Florida, USA). Currently he lives in the interactive amusement park "Jungle Island".

What was the first liger in Russia?

The very first liger in our country, which appeared in 2004 in the light of God, was a hybrid from Novosibirsk. This unusual cub became the result of the mating of an African lion and a Bengal tigress. The history of their love is impossible to impossible: small males and females were placed in one enclosure because of a shortage of space in the mobile branch of the Novosibirsk Zoo. Ligris was called Zita-Gita.

From the point of view of society ...

Hybrids of lions and tigers evoke ambiguous, and sometimes negative reaction from the modern public and animal advocates. According to scientists from the American company Animal Media, ligates are not full-fledged wild cats, but genetically mutilated animals. Scientists claim that they are directly affected by certain oncological diseases, as well as arthritis and neurological disorders.

Moreover, it is believed that, without exception, all hybrids of lions and tigers are barren creatures. And if they do not give offspring, then what is the point of mocking Mother Nature? Just for the sake of experiments? Defenders of animals are opposed to such a cardinal intervention in the natural forces of nature. Nevertheless, sometimes female ligresses bring offspring, but the life expectancy of their young, of course, is not great.