Ligers in Florida, USA

The Floridian state has more numbers of ligers than any other state and that's why it is the No.1 state for the ligers in USA. As many as 10 to 12 ligers are living in Florida in different zoos, foundations, safari parks and animal sanctuaries etc. Furthermore; in our pursuit we found that at least seven zoos (including all safari parks and sanctuaries etc.) which had ligers across different cities of Florida. Chances are there might be more numbers of ligers in Florida at different private facilities as well.

The state of Florida tops the list for having maximum numbers of ligers in USA. Florida has more than 12 ligers at its various official zoos and safari parks while chances are there might be more within private reserves.

No other state within the United States has this much numbers of liger zoos as the state of Florida. If you want to see the world's biggest cat i.e., the liger, and watch them in great numbers, then Florida is the best state with a lot of options for watching the ligers. Furthermore; the state of Florida may provide oodles of opportunities for any researcher who wants to research about the ligers. Let's explore more about the presence of the ligers at different venues across Florida.

The seven identified zoos which have ligers in Florida include the Jungle Island, ZWF (Zoological Wildlife Foundation) Miami, McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary, Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary, Big Cat Habitat, The Care Foundation and the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary. All of these zoos have in between 1 to 3 ligers with some having the Li-Ligers and the Ti-Ligers as well.

Florida not only has maximum numbers of ligers but maximum numbers of zoos with ligers too which include the Big Cat Habitat, Jungle Island, ZWF Miami, McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary, Endangered Animal Rescue Center, The Care Foundation and the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary.

Apart from Florida there are as many as 12 more states within USA which have ligers. Oklahoma State comes at the second spot with around 10 ligers in total but there is just a single liger zoo within the state of Oklahoma. Therefore; Florida leads not only in numbers of ligers but also in numbers of zoos and animal parks with ligers as well.

The Jungle Island is one of the most popular destination at Miami, Florida which has ligers. The ligers are part of the Jungle Island for at least 2 decades now. A very famous liger named as Vulcan the liger weighing 900 pounds is also part of the Jungle Island. World's biggest liger named as Hercules the liger weighing 921 pounds had also made frequent visits to the Jungle Island previously.

Jungle Island is one of the oldest zoos in Florida to have ligers. The name of the liger that lives at the Jungle Island is Vulcan the liger while Hercules the liger has often visited Jungle Island.

Apart from the ligers, the Jungle Island also has other big cats such as white lions, white tigers and even the Golden Tabby tigers etc. Another; animal sanctuary in Florida named as Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary also has 2 ligers at its premises.

The ZWF (Zoological Wildlife Foundation) Miami is one of the newest and the most popular destination with ligers in Florida. The animal foundation has 2 ligers and even the Ti-Ligers as well. A Ti-Liger is an offspring of a male tiger and a female liger. The Ti-Ligers are extremely rare while ZWF Miami has the privilege to have it as well.

The Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF) Miami is one of the newest and most popular destinations with ligers in Florida. The animal foundation not only has ligers but also the Ti-Ligers as well.

Therefore; amongst all the zoos in Florida, the ZWF Miami has slight more variation to offer you regarding the hybrid big cats from the liger family. One of the liger at the ZWF Miami is the male liger and its name is Zeus while the other one is the female liger. The ZWF Miami offers utmost care to its animals including their ligers and the Ti-Ligers as well.

A decade ago there were hardly 3 to 5 ligers within the state of Florida. At that time the Jungle Island and the Big Cat Habitat used to have 2 ligers each while the Big Cat Rescue Center used to have one liger. Furthermore; there were no Ti-Ligers within any zoo across the state of Florida. However; a decade later the liger population has climbed to more than double now.

The liger population in the state of Florida has climbed from 5 to almost 12 within a decade or so. Similarly; the numbers of zoos having ligers have also gone up from 3 to 7.

Furthermore; the numbers of zoos with ligers have also increased by more than 2 times now. We are seeing more and more numbers of zoos in Florida coming up with the ligers and this is the key reason that the state of Florida has become the number 1 state with maximum numbers of ligers.

It is expected that the population of the ligers within Florida will increase further in upcoming years. This also means that a decade later (in 2030), we may expect at least 25 ligers within the state of Florida. More and more people in captivity have lions and tigers together and the chances are they will crossbreed which will result in either the ligers or the tigons.

It can be safely predicted that the population of the ligers may further increase to 25 ligers within the span of almost 10 years. Ligers are healthy and they are fertile, therefore; they definitely have the huge potential to increase their overall numbers.

Zoos and animal experts are now acknowledging the fact that the lion and tigress hybridization is successful and these animals are not only fertile but also free of any genetic defects. Furthermore; the ligers also act like the brand ambassadors for the big cat species and they help in educating the people about the big cat conservation.

Liger Population Estimates in Florida
25 Ligers in Florida by 2030