Ligers
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Ligers result from a mating between a male
lion (Panthera leo) and a female tiger (Panthera tigris) They are
the largest known cats in the world. They have been recorded since the 1800s,
when they were first publicly exhibited.
Ligers
do not occur naturally in the wild, since the habitats of lions and tigers are
quite separate and do not overlap. Although there is a small Asian population
of lions, they are generally associated with Africa. Tigers are found only in
Asia. Therefore, ligers can only occur in captivity, where the two species have
been kept together.
It was human curiosity, and an urge to
conduct deliberate experiments in controlled breeding, that led to them being mated.
The resulting litters produced animals which developed into exceptionally large
adults, much larger than either of their parents.
As
with most hybrids, the males, though interested in and capable of copulation, are
sterile. Female ligers have the ability to conceive and reproduce viable cubs,
but these may be more delicate and prone to congenital defects and other health
problems. Tiger mothers often reject their liger cubs. In one well-documented case,
in 1824, a terrier bitch was employed to suckle three rejected liger cubs in
Thomas Atkins’ travelling menagerie. These were probably the first ligers ever
seen in Britain.
Ligers display characteristics of both
lions and tigers. They are sociable animals, like lions, whereas tigers are
solitary. They enjoy swimming, which is something tigers enjoy. In appearance, they
display faint tiger-striped patterning on the tawny background usually
associated with lions.
Oh, why can't mankind stop tinkering with wildlife. It only seems to cause suffering for many of the poor creatures.
ReplyDeleteTigers are perfect just as they are.
ReplyDelete