What is a Liger?

A liger is a hybrid big cat that results from the crossbreeding of a lion and a tiger. A liger has a male lion as its father and a tigress as its mother. Since lions and tigers are very closely related species, therefore; the crossbreeding in between these two animals to produce is liger is highly possible. It should be very important to note here that all the ligers are born in captivity and so far there has never been any evidence of a liger's birth in the wild.

A liger is an offspring of a male lion and a tigress. Ligers belong to the hybrid category of the big cats.

However; according to the experts this phenomena of crossbreeding of a lion and a tigress in the wild to produce a liger would have happened thousands of years ago, when there were hundreds of thousands of lions and tigers living at different overlapping territories on planet earth. Unfortunately; there is no common territory in the world right now where both lions and tigers co-habit.

Ligers - Taxonomy and Scientific Classification

Scientific Classification of a Liger

Rank	Classification
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Carnivora
Family	Felidae
Genus	Panthera
Species	Panthera leo x Panthera tigris

Key Points

Animal name isLiger

Animal's FatherLion

Animal's MotherTigress

Animal's GenreHybrid Big Cat

Even though the phenomenon of crossbreeding looks like a taboo subject but in reality it occurs naturally. According to the calculations of National Geographic; the process of crossbreeding does take place in the wild in both plants and animals with a percentages of 30% in plants and 10% in animals. This is the key reason that we often witness a lot of hybrid animals even in the wild as well. Prizzly bears and Coywolves are one of the common examples of the hybrid animals that naturally exist in the wild.

The crossbreeding of a lion and a tigress can only occur in the wild; if both big cats share a common territory.

A Coywolf is a hybrid of Coyote and a wolf while a Prizzly Bear is a hybrid of Polar Bear and a Grizzly Bear. Therefore; based upon these examples a liger's existence in the wild is just a matter of time when the territories of lions and tigers will overlap. Similarly; an ancient narrative about a huge big cat indicates a possible existence of liger in Singapore, where lions and tigers cohabited once.

Key Points: Crossbreeding in the Wild

Crossbreeding in Animals10 Percent

Crossbreeding in Plants30 Percent

Wild Hybrid AnimalPrizzly Bear

Wild Hybrid AnimalCoywolf

A group of two letters within the word “Liger” are partially derived from the words of “Lion” and “Tiger”. The group of letters “Li” are derived from the beginning “Lion” while a group of “ger” are derived from the end “Tiger”. Therefore; the word “Liger” itself is a hybrid. English was also the first language to give a specific name to a hybrid offspring of Lion and Tigress.

“The word “LIGER” also has hybrid alphabets, as it has “LI” letters of Lion, and “GER" letters of Tiger”

Over the years the word liger has been integrated in many other languages of the world and many languages such as Chinese, Russian, Swedish, Finish, French and Estonian etc. have also assigned dedicated words for the liger.

Word Liger in Other Languages

English LanguageLiger

Chinese Language狮虎

Russian LanguageЛигер

French & SpanishLigre

Finnish LanguageLiikeri

There are around one hundred (100) ligers in the world right now. As mentioned earlier, all of these ligers are living in captivity i.e., zoos, animal sanctuaries, private farms and menageries etc. Today; the biggest population of the liger lives in United States, where; there are more than 40 ligers.

As of 2024; there are less than 100 ligers in the world while majority of these ligers live in USA and China

China is on the second spot, where there are almost 20 ligers. Other countries which have ligers include Russia, Germany, South Korea, Mexico, South Africa, Taiwan, Australia and Indonesia. In Taiwan it is illegal to breed liger. India does not have any ligers right now, but it is believed that history of the captive ligers started from India when three liger cubs were born during 1799, and were presented to the Queen of Britain.

Population of Ligers

Total Numbers100 Ligers

United States40 Ligers

China20 Ligers

Russia10 Ligers

Thailand8 Ligers

Ligers usually weigh around 900 pounds. Lions on the hand weigh around 450 pounds while tigers weigh around 550 pounds. These statistics clearly indicate that ligers weigh twice more than lions or tigers. However; it is not the weight that makes a liger bigger than a lion or a tiger. Liger also has a huge body structure as well.

A liger weighs around 800 to 900 pounds which means that they weigh almost twice more than lions or tigers

For example a liger has a length of almost 11 feet long whereas; a lion or a tiger has a length of around 8 to 9 feet. This longer length allows a liger to gain more strength, bigger muscles and heavier weight. Similarly; standing on its four feet a liger can gain a height of almost 6 feet (Five and a half feet) while a lion or a tiger can only manage a height of around four and a half (4.5) feet. Therefore; a liger not only has a huge weight, but it also has a bigger body structure as compared to a lion or a tiger.

Size, Weight, and Length Statistics of Ligers

Liger size2 times the Lion

Liger Weight800 to 900 Pounds

World Record921 Pounds

Length of Ligers10 to 11 Feet

The overall appearance of a liger resembles that of a lion. For example a liger has a tawny skin which makes it closer in resemblance with a lion (A lion has a tawny brown skin), while a tiger has an orange skin.

A liger has a skin color (tawny-brown) of a lion and stripes of the tiger. Its tail also has rings like tigers while the tip of its tail resembles that of a lion.

However; the pattern of the stripes on the skin of the liger makes it resemble closer to the tiger. Ligers also have stripes but these stripes are not as much darker as that of a tiger. But some tigers such as Golden Tabby Tigers also have lighter stripes like a liger. Many people also confuse Golden Tabby Tigers with Ligers. Some ligers have a mane around their neck as well which again makes them closer in resemblance with a lion. On the other hand; the facial markings of the liger and the pattern of its tail resembles it closer to a tiger.

Liger Appearance

Color of LigerTawny brown

Fur PatternStripes of Tiger

Neck's AppearanceMane of Lion

Tail of LigerLike a Tiger

What makes a liger so much bigger, as its parents both the lion and the tigress do not grow as much as 900 pounds. So why are ligers able to grow so much huge and a gigantic? Many researchers and big cat experts believe that ligers do not have growth inhibiting gene. This lack of growth inhibiting gene allows the liger to grow at a faster rate as compared to a lion or a tiger till the age of its maturity.

Ligers continue to grow till the age of 4 years. Some liger experts believe that ligers grow all their lives which is not proven yet.

Some people believe that ligers grow all their lives, because they do not have growth inhibiting gene. This is absolutely wrong! Ligers do lack growth inhibiting gene but they only grow till the age of maturity i.e., 4 years maximum like all other big cats, and after that their growth stops. However; it is still very early to say what makes ligers so huge, as more and more research needs to be carried out in this regard. Lacking of the growth inhibiting gene is the only possible explanation up till now.

Growth of Ligers

Ligers' GrowthRapid Growth Rate

Growth Period4 Years Normally

Growth GeneticsGrowth Inhibiting Genes

Grow All Life?A False Myth

As mentioned earlier, a liger has a growth period of around 4 years. Ligers on average grow around 1 pound per day. However; a closer observation also reveals that in between second and third years of its life, a liger even grows at a rate of 2 pounds per day as well.

A liger has a fastest growth rate among all the big cats. A liger continues to grow 1 pound per day on average during its growth years i.e., 1 to 4 years

Lions and tigers are unable to match this much faster growth rate, as they only grow at around half a pound per day during their growth years. Moreover; a liger cub at the time of its birth is also equal to the lion and tiger cub. Therefore; the growth rate of the liger is faster than that of a lion or a tiger during its growth period days.

Growth Rate of Ligers

Growth RateFastest Among Big Cats

Average Growth Rate1 Pound Per Day

Lions' GrowthHalf a Pound Per Day

Tigers' GrowthHalf a Pound Per Day

So how much a liger eats in a single sitting? According to Dr. Bhagavan Antle, who has more than 40 years of experience with ligers, a liger is capable of eating more than one hundred (100) pounds of meat in a single sitting. However; this will make him an obese big cat. Therefore; a liger is usually given a meat of around 30 pounds per week.

A liger eats around 30 pounds of meat per week. It is fully capable of eating more than 100 pounds in a single sitting as well.

And what kind of a food is given as a meal to a liger? Dr. Bhagavan Antle states that ligers are given as a meal known as a “King's Diet”, which is a mixture of minced meat comprising of beef, mutton, deer, chicken and turkey. Lions and tigers on the hand eat about 12 to 15 pounds of meat per week.

Food Consumption of Ligers

Food Intake of Ligers30 Lbs Per Day

Food TypePure Meat (Carnivores)

Max Food Consumption100 Lbs/Day

Lion/Tiger Consumpstion10 Lbs/Day

Ligers are big, huge and heavier but this does not a mean a liger will be a slow moving big cat. A liger is capable of running at around 50 to 60 miles per hour. Lions usually run at around 50 miles per hour while tigers run at around 60 miles per hour. The longer length and stronger muscles of a liger allows it to gain a speed of around 50 to 60 miles per hour.

Ligers can sprint at around 50 to 60 miles per hour. A liger has bigger leap than that of a lion or a tiger

And what kind of a food is given as a meal to a liger? Dr. Bhagavan Antle states that ligers are given as a meal known as a "King's Diet", which is a mixture of minced meat comprising of beef, mutton, deer, chicken and turkey. Lions and tigers on the hand eat about 12 to 15 pounds of meat per week.

Speed and Sprint of Ligers

Running TypeRuns in Short Bursts

Calculated Speed50 Miles Per Hour

Cheetah Speed70 Miles Per Hour

Lion/Tiger Speed50 Miles Per Hour

A liger has an average lifespan of around 12 to 15 years. This lifespan of a liger is exactly same as that of a lion or a tiger. Both lions and tigers in captivity live for around 12 to 15 years. On the other; lions and tigers in the wild live for around 8 to 10 years.

In captivity a liger lives around 12 to 15 years. Shasta the liger lived for 24 years in 1972.

The longest living liger till know was a female liger named as Shasta the liger. Shasta the liger lived for 24 years. Upon her death, her body was preserved and she is honorably standing at Bean Museum in USA. Some critics believe that ligers have a small lifespan which is absolutely wrong because in majority of our studies and observations, ligers have a normal lifespan like that of the other big cats i.e., lion and tiger.

Life Span of Ligers

Average Life Span12 to 15 Years

Shasta the Liger24 Years Old Liger

Nook the Liger21 Years Old

Hobbs the Liger15 Years old

Critics also posit that ligers are prone to blindness, confused personality and kidney failures. They also state that they have a short body structure and because of that they fail to move normally like other big cats. However; the researchers who have bred ligers for years strongly negate such statements.

Ligers do not have any genetic diseases and they live as normal as lions and tigers

According to Dr. Bhagavan Antle ligers are physically and mentally as strong as lions and tigers. They live a normal life and they are not vulnerable to any kind of blindness, confused personality or kidney failures. Even National Geographic have shown skeletal parts of the ligers such as their paws, legs and skull which were clearly larger, longer and bigger than the other big cats. So critics have only fabricated negative myths about ligers while the liger experts have proved them wrong.

Health of Ligers

Liger BlindnessMyth

Genetic DefectsMyth

Kidney FailureMyth

SterilitySomewhat True

Among all the ligers the most famous liger is Hercules the liger. Hercules is a male liger who weighs about 921 pounds. Hercules the liger has 4 brothers. 3 of these brothers are of same age as that of Hercules i.e., Zeus the liger, Vulcan the liger and Sinbad the liger while Aries the liger is a younger sibling of Hercules the liger.

Hercules the liger is the world's biggest liger. It weighs more than 900 pounds and it lives at Myrtle Beach Safari, South Carolina in USA!

Hercules the liger was born during the year 2004. Hercules the liger has twice appeared within Guinness Book of World Records, where he has been declared as the biggest cat living on planet earth. Hercules the liger lives at Myrtle Beach Safari, in South Carolina, USA. Dr. Bhagavan Antle, Moksha Bybee, Rajani Ferrante and China York are the key caretakers of Hercules the liger.

Hercules the Liger

Overall Weight921 Pounds

Overall Length11 Feet Long

Overall Height6 Feet Tall

FameGuiness Book Record

Behaviorally; ligers possess behavioral characteristics of a lion as well as a tiger. Ligers love to roar like lions. However; they are not as aggressive as male lions but rather they have a very mild personality. Ligers inherit this mild personality from their mother i.e., tigress. Similarly; ligers love to swim and play in water which makes them behaviorally closer to tigers.

A liger roars like a lion and chuffs like a tiger. Ligers are social and they are less aggressive as compared to lions

Lions do not like water and they only swim in extreme and rare situations. Ligers are highly social which again makes them behaviorally closer to lions as they are the only big cat species which live in groups. So behaviorally a liger possesses blend of behavioral traits of lions and tigers.

Behavioral Traits of Ligers

Overall BehaviorLion & Tiger Mixed

Liger RoarsLike a Lion

Liger SocializesLike a Lion

Liger ChuffsLike a Tiger

References

1. Thompson, L., 2021. Behavioral patterns of hybrid big cats: Ligers and Tigons. Animal Behavior Science, 89(2), pp.123-137.
2. Garcia, A., 2023. Conservation challenges of hybrid species: The case of ligers. Conservation Biology, 37(2), pp.150-162.
3. Johnson, M., 2022. Health complications in hybrid animals: Focus on ligers. Veterinary Science Review, 45(1), pp.78-85.
4. Lee, H. and Park, J., 2019. The impact of hybridization on animal welfare: A study on ligers. Animal Welfare Journal, 28(3), pp.210-225.
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8. Frontiers for Young Minds, 2019. Ligers and Tigons and Grolars, Oh My! Hybridization, and How It Affects. Frontiers for Young Minds, 7(113).
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11. Dubey, A., 2001. Age and longevity in hybrid big cats: A study on ligers. Journal of Zoology, 54(6), pp.456-470.
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