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.
ReplyDeleteRemember Napoleon Dynamite? lol
ReplyDeleteGood grief. Stop mucking about with nature.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful animal but I agree with local alien. Thanks for the info. I had heard of them before but didn't know much about them.
ReplyDeleteHumans want to control and experiment on every thing even when it is sometimes a real disaster.
ReplyDeleteGreat information and photo. I learned something new today. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThey look like magnificent animals but apparently nature does not like this pairing.
ReplyDeleteWe do have to interfere, don't we?
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of Ligers before - thanks for sharing this Janice as I leaned something new today. How fascinating but I am not sure I totally agree with all this interfering with nature.
ReplyDeleteThanks for teaching me something today.
ReplyDeleteWell that is very interesting. It seems rather cruel to continue to try and produce them when there are so many issues.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of Ligers before ... but it is always risky going against nature.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Gorgeous animals, but this is exactly why you don't fool with Mother Nature.
ReplyDeleteAnother case of humans interfering unnecessarily with nature without benefit to humans or the species. Interesting to learn about though.
ReplyDelete