99 Facts of Ligers

Ligers are full of fascinating facts. Their uniqueness and unusual traits reveal unlimited numbers of facts about them. In fact; no other big cat in the world possesses this much numbers of facts as the liger does. Read 99 most amazing and astonishing facts about ligers from various perspectives;

Ligers are the hybrid big cats which result from the crossbreeding of a male lion and a female tiger (tigress). | Fact = 1

The first fact about ligers defines ligers in general. The fact explains their origin as the hybrid big cats in the big cat family. The fact also specifies ligers as the offspring of a lion and a tigress. Lastly; the fact also emphasizes and categorizes the mating of lion and tigress as the crossbreeding because both lions and tigers are different enough from one another. Yet still; the crossbreeding between lion and tigress is highly possible because both the big cat species are very closely related with one another.

Ligers are classified as the interspecific hybrids due to the fact that both lions and tigers have the same genus i.e., Panthera. | Fact - 2

Among hybrids, ligers are classified as the interspecific hybrids. In the hybrid science; if both parents have same genus, then the resultant hybrid offspring are called interspecific hybrids. The same is true for ligers because their parents belong to the same genus "Panthera" and at the same time belonging to different species i.e., Panthera Leo (Lion) and Panthera Tigris (Tigress), therefore; they are classified as the interspecific hybrids. Lastly; only lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards and snow leopards belong to the genus Panthera and all the crossbred hybrids resulting from these big cats will be termed as interspecific hybrids.

All liger cubs are born through normal delivery by their mother (tigress) contrary to the common misbelief that they are born via C-Section. | Fact - 3

One of the most important facts about ligers (especially their cubs) is that they are born through normal delivery process by tigresses at the time of birth. Liger cubs are of same size as the tiger cubs at the time of birth birth and a tigress can easily deliver them on her own. In our research about ligers, we never heard of a single tigress giving birth to a litter of liger cubs via C-Section. Even some births of the liger cubs were surprise for the owners themselves because they weren't aware that their tigress was pregnant. Previously; there was a common misbelief and misconception that liger cubs are born via C-Section operation because they are very huge at the time of their birth. This was absolutely wrong and in fact it was some propaganda from anti-liger entities.

Ligers, lions and tigers all have equal numbers of chromosomes. Having equal numbers of chromosomes ensure successful meiosis during hybridization. | Fact - 4

Both lions and tigers have a total of 38 chromosomes. Ligers also inherit 38 chromosomes from their parents i.e., 19 from lion and 19 from tigress. These equal numbers of chromosomes of lion and tigress yield successful meiosis or meiotic pairing during the process of hybridization and the resultant offspring (liger) has huge chances to genetically thrive and stay fertile. In the case of unequal numbers of chromosomes, the resultant offspring are genetically unstable and considered infertile.

It is believed that the first ever litter of liger cubs in captivity was born in India during the late 18th century. However; the first ever verified litter of liger cubs can be traced back from England in 1824. | Fact - 5

It is generally believed that ligers in captivity originated from India. The 1798's painting of liger cubs by the French naturalists Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in India is the only reason to validate this belief. Apart from that the petting of lions and tigers by Indian Rajas and Nawabs further boosts this belief. However; they merely maintained any records for ligers. But the birth of the three liger cubs at Windsor England in 1824 proves to be the most verified account of the first ever liger cubs. These liger cubs were bred by Mr. Atkins and they were even presented to king George the fourth.

A liger has the fur of a lion and the stripes of a tiger. | Fact - 6

When it comes to the general appearance of a liger, it appears like a lion because of the tawny brown fur all over its body. This makes them closer to lions at first glance. On the other hand; the pattern of stripes all over their fur makes them look like tigers to. Therefore; a liger mostly inherits its fur coloring from its father i.e., lion, and pattern of stripes from its mother i.e., tigress. This fact also makes them very unique and highly distinguished as compared to all other big cats within the big cat family.

A liger weighs almost twice bigger than a lion or a tiger. | Fact - 7

The most iconic fact about ligers is their huge weight. Ligers have the surprising ability to outgrow both lions and tigers respectively. Ligers are even bigger than the combined weights of their parents i.e., lion 450 pounds and tigress 300 pounds. Furthermore; a liger weighs almost twice bigger than the average weights of both lions and tigers. A liger usually weighs around 900 pounds on average while lions and tigers weigh around 450 to 500 pounds respectively. Lastly; ligers at 900 pounds should never be considered as obese or overweight because their body structure and size fully supports this weight.

Historically; Carl Hagenbeck was the first person to learn and claim that ligers have the potential to outgrow both lions and tigers. | Fact - 8

During the 19th century, a German biologist named as Carl Hagenbeck was the first person to learn and claim that ligers have the potential to outgrow both lions and tigers. His work was later published in "Animal Life and World of Nature" Magazine in 1902 in which his 5 years old liger was mentioned as a specimen which vividly outgrew a fully mature lion and had a body length of more than 10 feet long. He also claimed ligers to be superior to both lions and tigers. Before Hagenbeck all records mostly focused on appearances of ligers i.e., fur of a lion and stripes of tigers etc.

A liger has a body length of 11 to 12 feet long as compared to lions and tigers who are about 8 and 9 feet long respectively. | Fact - 9

Ligers are also longer in terms of their body length, when compared with lions and tigers. Their body length is measured from their nose to the end of their tail. Usually; a liger has the body length of around 11 to 12 feet long. On the other hand; lions and tigers have the body length of around 8 and 9 feet (10 feet in few cases) respectively. Therefore; ligers have at least 2 feet body length advantage as compared to lions and tigers which makes them look very big. Furthermore; having more body length means more strength and power for ligers as compared to lions and tigers.

Ligers are almost 6 feet tall from their feet to the tip of their ears while sitting on their hind legs. Ligers are also significantly taller at the shoulder heights as compared to lions and tigers. | Fact - 10

A liger is almost 6 feet tall while sitting on its hind legs when measured from bottom to the tip of its ears. This fact was revealed by Myrtle Beach Safari while explaining the physical characteristics of their liger i.e., Hercules, to the Daily Mail Website. Similarly; ligers are also significantly taller at their shoulder heights while standing on their four feet. Ligers are more than 4.7 feet (almost 5 feet) tall at their shoulders while lions and tigers are about 4 feet or marginally lesser for this length. Both lions and tigers look dwarfs, when compared with ligers on shoulder lengths.

Ligers are recognized as the largest hybrid of the big cat family by the Guinness Book of World Records. | Fact - 11

Ligers have also been recognized as the biggest and largest by the world's leading record archiving entity i.e., the Guinness World Records. In 2006; ligers were officially recognized as the largest hybrid of the big cat family (Felidae) by the Guinness World Records and their publication book also published them as well. Ligers from Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina, USA and from the Hogle Zoo were considered as the key specimens for that Guinness World Record. Apart from Guinness Book of World Records, ligers in general are also considered as the biggest of all the members in the big cat family.

Ligers are equal in comparison to the pre-historic Smilodons (880 Pounds) and the Great American lions (900 Pounds). | Fact - 12

Even if we compare ligers with the huge pre-historic big cats such as Smilodons (Saber Tooth Tigers) and the great American lions, ligers also come at the level terms in weighing statistics. Smilodons used to weigh around 880 pounds in weight, whereas; the Great American Lions used to weigh around 900 to 1000 pounds which makes them equal in sizes with ligers. These comparisons can give ligers a key accolade as the biggest of all the big cats along with the prehistoric Smilodons and the Great American Lions respectively.

Even though the female ligers are smaller than the male ligers but they are as big as male lions and tigers. Female ligers weigh 400 to 500 pounds in weight. | Fact - 13

Female ligers are smaller than male ligers but they are big enough to match the strength and size of both male lion and male tigers. Furthermore; both tigresses and lionesses look dwarf in front of the female ligers. A female liger form the Novosibirsk Zoo in Russia weighed more than 500 pounds and looked as big as male lion or a tiger in size. Similarly; a female liger from the Wynnewood Zoo also looked as big as a lion or a tiger at the Wynnewood Zoo in Oklahoma, USA.

Ligers also have the fastest growth rate among all the big cats. On average a liger grows about 1 pound per day during the first 4 years of its life. | Fact - 14

Surprisingly; very little has been discussed about the growth rate of the ligers which is in fact the fastest of all the big cats. According to the estimates; ligers grow at a rate of almost one pound per day (on average) during the first four years of its life. Furthermore; during the third year of their lives, this growth rate almost doubles in ligers. Remember; the first four years of the genus Panthera are the growing years and the same is true about ligers. On the other hand; lions and tigers grow at about half a pound per day (on average) during the first four years of their lives. Therefore; ligers' growth rate is twice more than that of lions and tigers.

Ligers are as healthy as the other big cats. They are free of genetic defects and live normally by inheriting the best traits of both lions and tigers. | Fact - 15

According to the liger experts, ligers are as healthy as the other big cats and they are free of any genetic defects and abnormalities. The hybridization process of lion and tigress is viable enough to produce genetically strong and successful offspring in the form of ligers. This is the key reason that the ligers possess the best physical and behavioral traits of both lions and tigers. Some online rumors depict ligers as genetically incorrect and unhealthy big cats but they are all wrong. At ligerworld.com we have observed more than 120 ligers all over the world and found them all to be fully healthy and free of genetic defects.

A liger’s head is twice bigger than a lion or a tiger and it is as wide as the shoulders of a man. | Fact - 16

Ligers have a very huge-sized head which is almost twice bigger than the head sizes of lions and tigers respectively. According to the estimates, a liger's head is almost 700 millimeters wide which is also the widest of all the big cat species. Roughly; a liger's head is equal to the shoulders of a man. On the other hand; lions and tigers' heads are about 380 millimeters and 350 millimeters wide. The liger's head also had big pair of eyes, huge nose and big mouth as well. An ABC reporter while reporting liger revealed that even the liger's breathe was powerful enough.

A liger has a bite force of more than 1000 pounds at the tip of its canines which is also twice more than the bite force of a lion or a tiger. | Fact - 17

The bigger mouth of a liger also means stronger jaw muscles and of course a stronger bite force. According to the National Geographic's program "The Super Cat", a liger can exert a bite force of 1000 pounds (at the tip of its canine) while lions and tigers can exert a bite force of around 400 to 450 pounds respectively. However; the liger's bite force is not the strongest one. There is another big cat whose bite force is even stronger than that of ligers and its name is jaguar. Jaguars possess a specialized skull and powerful arrangement of muscles which allow them to generate a bite force of more than 1100 pounds.

Ligers Possess
Stronger Bite Force Bite Force is Measured
Tip of Canines Ligers' Bite Force
1000 Pounds Lions & Tigers
400 Pounds

A liger may easily eat 100-150 pounds of meat in a single sitting. Ligers normally eat around 20 to 25 pounds of meat per day. | Fact - 18

Since; ligers are very huge, their food consumption is also massive. According to the liger experts, ligers are easily capable of eating around 100 pounds of a meat in a single sitting. However; as part of a balanced diet plan and restricting them from getting obese, ligers are given around 20 to 25 pounds of meat per day. Some big cat experts have also claimed to feeding them about 15 pounds of meat per day. The food consumption of ligers is also twice more than that of lions and tigers, who usually eat around 8 to 10 pounds of meat per day.

Ligers have Massive
Food Consumption Ligers can Eat
100 to 150 Pounds of Meat Ligers Usually Eat
20 to 25 Pounds Lions & Tigers
Eat 8 - 10 Pounds of Meat

A liger usually consumes a gallon of water per day. | Fact - 19

Ligers also have a massive water consumption. Water also serves as an extremely important part of their healthy lifestyle. Ligers usually drink about one gallon of water per day which is also considered as the largest among all the big cats. Just like lions and tigers, ligers also drink a lot of water after completing their meals. According to one liger caretaker from a private zoo in Dubai, he gives them a break from the food once a week and only serves them water on that day as part of their healthy and balanced dietary lifestyle.

Ligers Drink
A lot of Water Daily Water Consumption
1 Gallon of Water Ligers Drink Water
After their Finishing Meal

Ligers love to swim. They are excellent swimmers and love to play while swimming. | Fact - 20

Ligers have a great motivation for swimming and they love to swim. Ligers have inherited their love for swimming from their mother i.e., the tigress. Lions on the other hand are usually vary of water along and they show a lot of reluctance for swimming. Ligers develop their love for swimming right from the early ages of their lives. It has been observed in many zoos and animal safari parks that ligers have been seen enjoying their time in water and also playing fight with other big cats while in water. Similarly; just like tigers, ligers also preferably like to sit in water during the hot summers as well.

Despite being the heaviest and biggest of all the big cats, ligers are very agile. Ligers are also the agilest of all the animals that weigh around 800 to 900 pounds. | Fact - 21

Even though ligers are twice bigger than lions and tigers and they carry huge weight on their bodies, yet still ligers are very active and agile. In fact; ligers are the most agile of all the animals who weigh around 800 to 1000 pounds. Just like the normal big cats in captivity, ligers love to run, play and even jump around their enclosures. They are always curious in knowing their surroundings and very actively respond to any situation. One of their favorite part have been to swiftly jump against the enclosure and try to grab meat from their caretakers. Ligers have often been observed extremely agile during their food schedules.

Ligers roar like lions and chuff like tigers. | Fact - 22

When it comes to roaring, ligers can roar like lions. Lions and tigers usually roar to let other big cats know that they are actually the boss of that particular area, so stay away. The same is true about ligers because roaring is also part of their territorial behavioral. Ligers also roar when they hear the roaring of other lions from the neighboring enclosures. Ligers may also have the loudest roar of all big cats and liger experts relate the roar of a liger like a jet plane flying right above your head. On the other hand; ligers also inherit the trait of chuffing from tigers. Whenever; they want to greet their keepers or caretakers, they produce a chuffing sound to welcome them.

The ears of ligers resemble the ears of tigers. Their ears appear to be black (backside) with visible white spot of tiger ears on each pair of their ears. | Fact - 23

Ligers inherit the ears of tigers rather than the ears of lions. The color patterns of the ligers' ears are almost identical to that of the tigers' ears. For example, tigers have black ears (backside) with visible white spots on them (one white spot per ear). ligers also have black ears and those vivid white spots of tiger ears on their ears are clearly visible as well. Each ear of lions from the backside usually have black, tawny brown and slightly whitish spot. The size of the ligers' ears is also bigger than the ear sizes of lions and tigers' ears.

Ligers have also been witnessed purring like the house cats. | Fact - 24

Some liger caretakers have claimed that their ligers purred like a domestic house cat. Tim Stofel, who spent almost a decade with Hobbs the liger, claimed that Hobbs could surprisingly purr, a feature which is not associated with the big cats like lions and tigers. In 2019; the Daily Mail (DM) news also wrote about Apollo the liger which used to purr as a small cub. However; according to the big cat experts, tigers do purr as well but their purring only occurs as they breathe out. Tim Stofel and DM might well be referring to that kind of a purring from ligers. On the other hand; house cats purr as they breathe in as well as they breathe out. Purring is classified as a tonal fluttering and it explains pleasure, happiness as well as distress.

Ligers have dark brown colored stripes which fade away with the passage of time but remain visible. | Fact - 25

Unlike; tigers which normally have black colored stripes, ligers always have dark brown colored stripes all over their body. These dark brown colored stripes are extremely dark at the time of birth and almost look like black. However; with the passage of time these stripes fade away and become dark brown on their tawny brown fur. Lastly; ligers are sometimes confused with the golden tabby tigers whose stripes also appear to be dark brown in color but on an orange-brown fur.

Ligers have more stripes as compared to tigers. Every liger has its own unique pattern of stripes. | Fact - 26

Ligers have more stripes on their fur as compared to the stripes of tigers. Two of the key factors which contribute to more numbers of stripes on ligers include 1. Closer occurrence of stripes and 2. Bigger size of ligers. The liger stripes exist a lot closer to one another because of which their fur displays more stripes. Lastly; each and every liger has its own unique set of stripes and no two ligers have same pattern of stripes. The stripes in tigers and ligers are like fingerprints and both can be uniquely recognized on the basis of these stripes as well.

Ligers can be categorized into four key types i.e., ligers with mane, ligers without mane, white ligers and tiger lookalike ligers. | Fact - 27

Based upon their physical appearance, ligers can be classified into four key types or categories which include 1. Ligers with mane, 2. Ligers without mane (maneless), 3. White ligers and 4. Tiger lookalike ligers. Some male ligers inherit lions' mane around their neck while others don't, therefore; these two kinds of ligers are classified as mane and maneless (without mane) ligers. On the other hand; some ligers are born to white lion and white tigress and they are termed as the white ligers. The color of their fur is slightly light brown as compared to the original ligers. Lastly; some ligers look almost like tigers rather than lions. These ligers are classified as tiger lookalike ligers. So far; we have witnessed only one liger of this classification and the name of that liger was Rocky the liger.

A liger can run at the speed of 40 to 50 miles per hour. This might well be the fastest speed for any mammal at 900 pounds. | Fact - 28

Even though ligers are the heaviest of all the big cats, ligers can still run very fast. According to the sources from Myrtle Beach Safari, ligers can run at a speed of 40 to 50 miles per hour. The safari park even showed its 900 pounds ligers running at the top speed of 40 to 50 miles per hour. The elongated body of the ligers, longer legs along with stronger muscles helps them to run at the speed of 40 to 50 miles per hour. At its full rhythm of sprinting, a liger's all four legs stay in the air at some instance to generate maximum forward momentum. On the other hand; both lions and tigers are also capable of running at 40 to 50 miles per hour.

A liger can leap forward at about 25 to 30 feet in a single jump. | Fact - 29

The longer legs and stronger leg muscles of ligers not only help them to run very fast but also allow them to leap forward for about 25 to 30 feet long in a single jump. The ability of the ligers to jump this far also describes about the presence of an enormous strength within their hindlegs. In the wild, leaping forward and pouncing on any prey or object with a body weight of around 900 pounds will simply decimate it. Tigers on the other hand; are known to leap forward for about 40 feet long in a simple jump.

Ligers have unique facial markings which appear as spotted marks on their forehead. | Fact - 30

Previously; it was thought that ligers possess tigers’ facial markings. Interestingly; ligers have spotted facial markings which are quite different to the facial markings of tigers. The facial markings of tigers appear in the form of linear lines on their forehead, whereas; the facial markings of ligers as mentioned earlier appear more like spots. These facial markings of ligers also do not match the facial markings of jaguars and leopards either. Surprisingly, the facial marking pattern of clouded leopards is much similar to the facial marking pattern of ligers.

Ligers have more than 2 inches long claws which are the longest and most potent of all the big cats. | Fact - 31

Ligers possess retractable claws which are more than 2 inches long. These claws are biggest of all the big cats and they are twice bigger than the claws of lions and tigers. Ligers' two inches long claws along with muscle strength and heavier paws are capable of inflicting much more damage than the damage inflicted through the claws of lions and tigers. Dr. Bhagavan Antle from Myrtle Beach Safari equated claws of ligers to the Velociraptor dinosaurs.

A liger’s tail possesses the rings of tiger's tail and the tuft of lion's tail at the tip. | Fact - 32

Interestingly; the tail of ligers possesses the traits of both lions and tigers. For an example; the ligers' tail possesses rings which make their tail like the tiger's tail. However; at the tip of their tail (at the end), ligers also possess tuft of hair which makes their tail looks like the lion's tail. Therefore; a liger's tail displays the blend of both tiger and lion' tails respectively. A liger's tail is also bigger in diameter as well as in length, when compared to lion's and tiger's tails respectively. However; among big cats the Snow Leopards have the biggest tail in proportion to their body sizes.

Ligers are very social and their social behavior suggests that they have inherited their social genes from lions. | Fact - 33

According to the liger experts, ligers love socializing not only with the other big cats but also with their caretakers. Male ligers in captivity tend to team up with their brother siblings or any other partner big cat who lives with them since childhood. They tend to care for other big cats and also maintain a strong bond with one another. In the big cat family; lions are perhaps the only big cats who socialize while others are classified as the solitary big cats. The hybridization of lion and tigress allows the ligers to inherit the socialization genes from its father i.e., lion.

Some male ligers also have beautiful trimmed mane around their neck while others don't grow any mane at all. | Fact - 34

Some of the male ligers grow a beautiful trimmed mane around their neck. The presence of mane associates these male ligers closer to lions. Usually; ligers have brown or blonde colored mane around their neck. So far; no longer have been witnessed growing black mane around its neck. The mane around the male ligers also makes them look huge and gigantic from the head area. However; a liger's mane is not that bigger as the lion's mane. On the other; some male ligers do not grow any mane at all around their necks. Experts relate the mane of the ligers with an increased testosterone level too.

Despite being very huge, ligers have a very mild personality and they are not as aggressive as the male lions. | Fact - 35

Ligers possess a rather mild personality trait rather than being highly aggressive. They are rather easier to tame as compared to the aggressive male lions in captivity. Male lions are considered as the most aggressive and territorial of all the big cats. Even though ligers are huge and biggest of all the big cats and at first impression they look fearsome, they relatively have a mild personality as compared to the male lions. According to the liger experts (Dr. Bhagavan Antle), ligers inherit their mild personality traits from their mothers i.e., tigresses.

Male ligers love to scent mark their enclosures and also scent mark anyone coming closer to their enclosures as well. | Fact - 36

Even within captivity, the male ligers are known to frequently scent mark their enclosures. All the big cats, especially the males scent mark their territories to let the other big cats know who is the boss in that particular area? Ligers may also scent mark anyone coming near their enclosure as a gesture of affection or greeting for them. According to one caretaker, a liger named as Levi from the G.W. Zoo in Wynnewood, scent-marked about 20 people at once, who were standing near its enclosure.

Just like lions and tigers, ligers also sleep or stay inactive for more than 20 hours per day. | Fact - 37

Ligers spend most of their time resting and sleeping throughout the day. Ligers have been observed to sleep (or stay inactive) more than 20 hours a day which is also on the level of par with the sleeping habits of both lions and tigers. Ligers and other big cats in captivity are mostly active during the feeding or mating times. Other than that, they preferably rest inside their enclosures by laying down or sleeping. In the wild, lions and tigers sleep or stay inactive for about 18 hours per day.

Ligers like all big cats also eat grass which keeps their stomach fit and healthy. | Fact - 38

Even though ligers are strictly carnivores, not many people are actually aware of this fact that ligers are also known to eat meager quantities of grass as well. According to one of the liger experts from the G.W. Zoo, eating grass acts like a Pepto-Bismol kind of a stuff for a liger. It helps them in digestion and its fiber contents actually cleanses the stomach of ligers. Eating grass should not be considered unusual for ligers because all the big cats also eat grass from time to time.

Ligers in captivity dominate both lion and tiger. Both lions and tigers simply just back off even with the slightest of aggressions from ligers. | Fact - 39

Like all big cats, ligers tend to dominate their dominance over other big cats. Both lions and tigers respect the huge size of ligers and this is the key reason that ligers dominate them in captivity. If an enclosure is shared by a liger, tiger and lion, liger is definitely going to be the dominant one. According to the liger expert Dr. Bhagavan Antle, both lions and tigers immediately back off even with the slightest of aggressions from the ligers in captivity. Liger vs lion or tiger is like a heavyweight vs. the light weight wrestler or lion/tiger vs jaguar.

As of 2019 – 2020, there are more than 120 ligers in the world. This is also their highest known existence ever recorded. | Fact - 40

According to the recent estimates and statistics collected by ligerworld.com (confirmed individually), there are more than 120 ligers all over the world. This is also the all-time highest existence of ligers, since their origin in captivity about 2 centuries ago. Surprisingly; about a decade ago, there were about 15 to 20 ligers (some sources even quoting just 10 ligers) in the world and within the span of just 10 years the liger population climbed from 20 to 120 ligers.

At least 13 countries from five major continents (North America, Asia, Europe, Africa and Asia) have ligers. | Fact - 41

The numbers of countries with ligers have now reached to 13. This is the first time in the history of ligers that numbers of countries with ligers are now in double figures. The names of countries which have ligers include USA, China, Russia, Thailand, Argentina, Mexico, Italy, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Africa and South Korea. These 13 countries hail from 5 major continents of the world which include North America, Asia, Africa, South America and Europe. Previously; Germany, France, India, Libya, Japan, and England also had ligers in captivity.

About 52 zoos (safari parks and animal sanctuaries etc. included) all over the world have ligers. Majority of these zoos are located in United States. | Fact - 42

A decade ago; the number of zoos with ligers were not more than 10. Today; the aggregate number of zoos with ligers for the first time have crossed the 50-digit mark in 2018-2019. The exact number of zoos with ligers are now 52 in 2019. More than 50 percent of these zoos are in United States while 25 percent exist both in China and Russia respectively. Please note that the private animal facilities have still not been included within these zoo numbers and there might be at least 5 to 10 more animal facilities all over the world with ligers.

United States has the most numbers of ligers in the world. More than 50 ligers live in different zoos, safari parks and animal sanctuaries etc. in United States. | Fact - 43

Among all the countries; United States is the top country with maximum numbers of ligers. According to the estimates; there are more than 50 ligers in United States which all live at various zoos, animal safari parks and sanctuaries etc. This also makes USA as the major hub of the ligers and hybrid big cats in the world. Chances are there might be more ligers in USA which live in private facilities and for obvious reason they are obscure from the public domain. Lastly; from North America, only two countries i.e., USA and Mexico, have ligers.

The first ever liger in United States was born in 1948. The name of that first liger was Shasta the liger. | Fact - 44

On May 6, 1948; the first ever liger in United States was born. The name of that first US liger was Shasta. Shasta was the female liger and she was born at the Hogle Zoo located in Utah, USA. Shasta's parents Huey the Lion and Daisy the tigress, were living together since their birth which primarily was the reason for the ease of their successful mating. The birth of Shasta the liger created a huge buzz across the US media because she was not only the first liger in United States but also the rarest one.

1st Liger in USA
May 06, 1948 Location
Hogle Zoo, Utah Name of 1st Liger
Shasta the Liger Shasta was
Very Popular & Rarest

The state of Florida in USA has the most numbers of zoos and safari parks with ligers. | Fact - 45

The state of Florida is the No. 1 state for ligers for accumulating most numbers of zoos (safari parks and sanctuaries included) with ligers. As many as 7 zoos across the state of Florida has ligers. These zoos include ZWF Miami, Jungle Island, McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary, Big Cat Habitat, The Care Foundation and Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary. It also means that if you are in Florida you have will have maximum opportunities of watching ligers at various zoos. Globally; there is no other state or even province in the world with this much numbers of zoos with ligers.

Russia, Italy and Netherlands are the only three European countries with ligers. | Fact - 46

In Europe; the only three countries with ligers include Russia, Italy and Netherlands. Globally; Russia is at the third spot with 12 ligers. Italy has 2 ligers while Netherlands has only 1 liger. Italy and Netherlands only have ligers at the private circus shows. Previously; three European countries United Kingdom, Germany and France also had ligers. The last known liger in Germany died in 2006 at the age of 18 years.

China is the top country in Asia for ligers. Other Asian countries with ligers include Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Taiwan. | Fact - 47

The Asian continent accumulates maximum number of countries with ligers. At least 7 countries from Asia have ligers. These countries include China, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Taiwan. China is at the top with maximum numbers of ligers in Asia. According to the estimates; there are as many as 24 ligers at 9 different zoos in China. Thailand is at the second spot with 8 to 10 ligers in at least 4 zoos.

In China; the first ever litter of liger cubs was born in 2005. | Fact - 48

The Hainan Tropical Wildlife Park and the Botanical Gardens was the first ever zoo from China to successfully crossbreed lion and tigress to produce liger cubs. Even though the first ever liger cubs in China were born in 2002 but the rearing of those liger cubs wasn't successful. Therefore; the first ever successfully reared liger cubs in China were born on 2nd May, 2005. Two ligers named as Pingping and Anan were born at that time. These ligers are still alive today and they are regarded as China's longest living ligers.

The first ever litter of liger cubs in Russia was born in 2004. | Fact - 49

In 2004; two liger cubs were born in Russia which were also recognized as the first ever liger cubs of Russia. A Siberian tigress successfully mated with an African male lion and gave birth to two liger cubs. Both of those liger cubs were females and their names were Zita and Gita. One of the liger cubs (Zita) was later transferred to the Novosibirsk Zoo while the other liger cub (Gita) became part of some mobile circus in Russia. Both liger cubs were successfully reared to adulthood.

In China you can even feed a live chicken to a liger at the Siberia Tiger Park located in Harbin city. | Fact - 50

At China's Siberia Tiger Park in Harbin, you can even feed an alive chicken to a liger and other big cats. Even though this practice looks quite bizarre but some visitors find it really exciting and they even pay extra for feeding a live chicken to ligers and other big cats. Apart from that you can also feed raw meat to ligers for some extra payment. Video evidence also shows that the zoo is also known to feed an alive cow or calf to its tigers as well.

In China you can
Feed a Live Chicken to Liger

A tigress in China has given birth to 12 liger cubs in her entire lifespan which is also the world record for maximum births by a tigress to ligers. | Fact - 51

The world record for maximum numbers of liger cubs’ birth goes to a Chinese tigress who gave birth to 12 liger cubs. Furthermore; no C-Section was needed for the birth of those liger cubs, as they were all born through normal delivery. The name of that tigress was Huan Huan who was a South Chinese tigress by species classification and she lived at the Hainan Tropical Wildlife Park. The first Chinese liger cubs i.e., Pingping and Anan, were also the offspring of Huan Huan the tigress.

Argentina is the only country from the South American continent to have ligers. | Fact - 52

In 2015, Argentina became the first South American country to successfully crossbreed a lion and a tigress to produce a liger cub. The Lujan Zoo, located in the suburbs of Argentine's capital Buenos Aires had the privilege to exhibit a female liger to the general public for the first time ever in Argentina and in South America. The name of at first liger from Argentina was Milli the ligress and she was born to an African lion and a Bengal tigress.

South Africa is the only country from the African continent to have ligers. | Fact - 53

In Africa, South Africa is the only country with ligers. South Africa also has a long history of ligers, as the country had ligers dating back to the mid of the 20th century. In 1939; South Africa's National Museum in Bloemfontein was also the first museum in the world to display the skeleton of a liger. Currently; the Natal Lion Park located in Pietermaritzburg city of South Africa is the country's only zoo with liger. Previously; Libya was another country from the African continent which had a single liger at its Tripoli Zoo but no information came about that liger after the Libyan civil war in 2011. This liger at Libya's Tripoli Zoo was actually born in Germany.

The London Zoo in England was the first zoo in the world to display liger in an enclosure for the general public in 1924. | Fact - 54

In 1924, England's London Zoo had the privilege to be the first ever zoo in the world to exhibit a liger for the general public. The name of that liger was Ranji the liger who was almost a year-old male liger by the time it reached the zoo. Being rarest and most probably the only liger in the world at that time, Ranji fascinated many British newspapers to write about ligers. Ranji was in fact a gift to the London Zoo from the Indian Maharajah of Nawanagar named as Ranjitsinhji, who also played for the English cricket team.

Taiwan is the only country in the world which has banned crossbreeding of lion and tigress to produce ligers. | Fact - 55

The only country in the world to put a ban on ligers is Taiwan. This controversial ban took place in 2010; when the country's first litter of 3 liger cubs was born at a private zoo in Taipei. The owner was slapped with a fine of $1500 (USD) and the liger cubs were confiscated from him at that time. Video evidence also showed that both lion and tigress were kept in small cage which had horrible conditions and the owner himself didn't know about the pregnancy of the tigress. One of the liger cubs from that litter is still alive today and lives at the Pingtung Rescue Center in Taiwan.

Currently; the world's biggest liger is Hercules the liger who weighs 922 pounds. | Fact - 56

A male liger named as Hercules is the biggest liger in the world weighing 922 pounds. Hercules has twice featured within Guinness World Records as the largest cat on earth (2006) and also the biggest liger weighing 922 pounds (2014). Hercules the liger lives at Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina, USA. Hercules the liger was born in 2003 and as of today he is almost 16 years old. Hercules the liger also has 3 more brothers of same age i.e., Vulcan, Sinbad and Zeus and a younger brother named as Aries the liger.

The heaviest liger ever recorded was Nook the liger who weighed 550 Kg (1213 pounds). | Fact - 57

A liger named as Nook is still recognized as the heaviest liger ever recorded for weighing 550 Kg (1213 pounds). With this weight Nook was more than 300 pounds heavier than a normal weighing liger at 900 pounds. His female partner a Siberian tigress looked dwarf in front of Nook the liger. Many big cat experts classified Nook as an overweight obese big cat but it lived a normal life. Nook the liger lived at the Valley of the Kings Sanctuary & Retreat which is located in Wisconsin, USA.

A liger named as Hobbs is an all-time biggest (non-obese) liger in the world, who weighed 992 pounds. | Fact - 58

Hobbs the liger weighing at 992 pounds is recognized as an all-time biggest (non-obese) liger ever. Apart from its weight of 992 pounds, according to his caretaker Hobbs was almost 12 feet long in length. Hobbs also had a beautiful mane like a lion around his neck which made him look very huge. Hobbs was also recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest living cat on earth. Hobbs lived at the Sierra Safari Zoo which is located in Reno, Nevada, USA.

Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina, USA is the most famous liger zoo (safari park) in the world. | Fact - 59

The most famous zoo for ligers is undoubtedly, the Myrtle Beach Safari. This safari park is located at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA and it is indeed the biggest research center for ligers in the world. Over the years, Myrtle Beach Safari has been highlighted many times within mainstream media for having ligers. Ligers from Myrtle Beach Safari have also featured in National Geographic's program Super Cat. Furthermore; other mainstream media channels such as CNN and Discovery Channels have also featured ligers from the Myrtle Beach Safari. World's biggest liger i.e., Hercules the liger also lives at the Myrtle Beach Safari.

Myrtle Beach Safari also holds the world record for consistently rearing ligers, since late 1980s. | Fact - 60

To its biggest credit about ligers, Myrtle Beach Safari has been consistently rearing ligers for almost 33 years now. This is the longest and consistent rearing of ligers in the history and no other zoo in the world has reared ligers for this much interval of time. People have witnessed ligers at Myrtle Beach Safari in late 1980s, throughout 1990s (Samson & Sudan), 2000s (Hercules & his brothers) and 2010s (Hercules and White Ligers). Over the span of these 33 years; Myrtle Beach Safari has introduced at least 11 fully matured ligers, some of which have also featured within mainstream media.

Myrtle Beach Safari
Rearing Ligers Since 1988 1980s - 1900s
Ligers - Samson & Sudan Throughout 2000s
Ligers - Hercules, Aries Vulcan, Zeus & Sinbad Myrtle Beach Safari
Longest Streak for Ligers

Myrtle Beach Safari is also commended for displaying the world's first and only real-time comparison of a fully-grown liger with a tiger and a lion. | Fact - 61

Another feather in the hat for Myrtle Beach Safari is that they are the first and only reserve in the world to demonstrate the real-time comparison of a fully-grown liger with a tiger and a lion. Furthermore; this comparison has been demonstrated in open lawn without any barriers of enclosure. In the comparison, the liger really dwarfed both lion and tiger respectively in all aspects i.e., weight, height, length and skull size etc. In early 2000s; Myrtle Beach Safari has also made comparison of a male lion and a male liger too. At that time Samson the liger met his father Arthur the lion.

Myrtle Beach Safari
Real Comparison of Liger vs Tiger Liger vs Tiger Comparison
450 lbs Tiger Looked Dwarf Myrtle Beach Safari also made
Real Time Comparison of Liger vs Lion Arthur the Lion
Met his Liger Sun Samson

The world's first litter of white liger cubs was also born at Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina, USA. | Fact - 62

The first ever litter of four white liger cubs was also born at the Myrtle Beach Safari in December, 2013. These white liger cubs from Myrtle Beach Safari were also featured within Guinness World Records as well. A white liger is a liger that has a male white lion as its father and white tigress as its mother. White ligers are even further rarer than the normal ligers and there are only four of them in the world. White ligers as compared to the normal ligers have light brown or an off-white colored fur and they are not as white as the white tigers and white lions.

Myrtle Beach Safari
World's First White Ligers Total White Ligers
4 White Ligers White Ligers' Parents
White Lion & White Tigress White Ligers' Fur
Light Brown or Creamish Fur White Ligers
Appeared in Guinness World Records

Currently; Dr. Bhagavan Antle from Myrtle Beach Safari has the maximum exposure and knowledge of ligers. He has been breeding ligers since 1988. | Fact - 63

Dr. Bhagavan Antle is the biggest name associated with ligers in the recent era. He is the biggest expert of ligers and has been breeding ligers since 1988 at his animal safari park i.e., Myrtle Beach Safari. He is also the director of the Myrtle Beach Safari. Over the years he has revealed unbelievable facts about ligers and majority of this article's facts have also been revealed by him. He has also featured with his ligers at various mainstream media channels such as National Geographic, Discovery Chanel, CNN and NBC etc. He has also appeared within Guinness Book of World Records along with his ligers. During 1990s; he surprised the world with his huge ligers named as Samson and Sudan and throughout 2000s his ligers Hercules, Zeus, Sinbad and Vulcan was the attention of the people all over the world. In 2010s his white ligers truly fascinated the whole world.

Dr. Bhagavan Antle
Biggest Expert of Ligers Associated with Ligers
Since 1988 His Famous Ligers
Hercules, Samson & Hobbs Dr. Bhagavan Antle
Director - Myrtle Beach Safari Dr. Bhagavan Antle
Revealed Maximum Facts about Ligers

In Thailand, you can touch, sit and even hug a fully-grown adult liger. | Fact - 64

It only happens in Thailand, where you can not only touch but also sit and even hug a fully-grown adult liger. Thailand's Hua Hin Zoo and Chang Puak Park are both famous for such adventures of having a real time interaction with an adult liger. Even some tourists have been seen sitting on the back of an adult liger. Critics believe that those ligers and many other tigers are being sedated and that's why they tolerate the presence of the visitors around them. However; the zoo authorities strongly dismiss such claims and stress the fact that their ligers have been tamed to behave this way.

In Thailand you can
Touch, Hug or Sit on Ligers Famous Zoos of Thailand
Huahin Zoo & Chang Puak Camp Thailand Ligers are
Tamed to Act Tolerance This Adventure
Looks Risky

A liger named as Rocky is the only liger who has (unfortunately) claimed the life of its keeper in 2009. | Fact - 65

In 2009; a very unfortunate and sad event took place at Oklahoma USA, when a liger named as Rocky claimed the life of its keeper named as Peter Getz. Despite the zoo's clear protocol of not going inside the cage of the big cats, Peter Getz still went inside. Rocky who was having meal at that time and suddendly and unpredictably he became protective and mauled Peter Getz, who despite being rescued died at the hospital because of serious injuries. This is the only incident of a human casuality from a liger.

In 2010
A Liger Killed its Keeper Name of Liger
Rocky the Liger Name of Victim
Peter Getz Victim Entered Liger Enclosure
While Liger was Eating Victim Died at Hospital
Because of Serious Injuries

Ligers are the only hybrid big cats who have featured within Guinness Book of World Records for at least 4 times. | Fact - 66

The Guinness World Records has lauded and commended ligers for at least 4 times on various occasions. Apart from ligers, no other hybrid big cat has ever featured within Guinness Book of World Records. Ligers first appeared in Guinness Book of World Records in 1973, when the book reported a liger from South Africa's Bloemfontein Zoo. In 2006's Guinness Book of World Records, ligers were declared as the largest big cat hybrids while in 2013; Hercules the liger was declared as the largest living cat on planet earth. Lastly; in 2014, the birth of the white liger cubs born to the white lion and white tigress also made it to the official publication of Guinness World Records.

Guinness World Records
Ligers - 4 Times Ligers - 1st Time
1973 - South African Liger Ligers - 2nd Time
2006 - Largest Big Cat Hybrids Ligers - 3rd Time
2013 - Hercules as Biggest Cat Ligers - 4th Time
2014 - White Liger Cubs

In liger’s history; Shasta the liger is still the longest living liger who lived for 24 years. | Fact - 67

A female liger named as Shasta from USA lived for 24 years and is proudly recognized as the longest living liger in liger's history. Shasta the liger was born in 1948 and died in 1972. At her birth; Shasta was cheered as the first ever liger in United States while at death she was the only liger in USA. Shasta the liger lived at Utah's Hogle Zoo. She was the only big cat in her enclosure. After her death her body was preserved and her taxidermy is still present at the Bean Museum in Utah, USA.

Shasta the Liger
Longest Living Liger Shasta Lived for
Record 24 Years Life of Shasta
1948 to 1972 Shasta's Taxidermy
Bean Museum Shasta the Liger
Lived Alone in Enclosure

Nook the heaviest liger is the longest living male liger in liger’s history. Nook the liger lived for 21 years. | Fact - 68

A liger named as Nook from USA is also recognized as the longest living male liger in liger’s history. Nook the liger was born in 1988 and died of cancer in 2009. Nook as mentioned earlier still holds the world record of the heaviest liger in the history of big cats. Therefore; Nook holds two records 1. The longest living male liger 2. The heaviest liger in the history of ligers. Despite the fact that Nook was too heavy and used to sit most of the time, his life of 21 years is rather a big surprise for the big cat researchers.

Nook the Liger
Longest Living Male Liger Age of Nook the Liger
21 Years Nook was also
The Heaviest Liger

Female ligers are fully fertile and they can successfully mate with male lions and male tigers to produce Li-Ligers and Ti-Ligers respectively. | Fact - 69

The most important fact about ligers is that the female ligers are fertile. Female ligers can successfully crossbreed with either male lions or male tigers to produce viable offspring which are called Li-Liger and Ti-Ligers respectively. The offspring produced by the female ligers are also known as the second-generation liger hybrids. Therefore; both Li-Ligers and Ti-Ligers are also classified as the second-generation liger hybrids. According to the estimates from 2010 to 2019; record numbers of female ligers have given births to Li-Ligers and Ti-Ligers in the history ligers.

Female Ligers
Fully Fertile Female Ligers Produce
Li-Ligers & Ti-Ligers Li-Liger
Male Lion & Ligress Ti-Liger
Male Tiger & Ligress 2010 to 2019
Record No. of Ligress Births

Normally; the female ligers are ready to mate from 4 years and onwards. | Fact - 70

Just like tigresses and lionesses, the female ligers can start breeding at the age of 4 years. They can continue to breed till the age of 15 years, however; after the age of 11 years the fertility and egg production in female ligers, tigresses and lionesses significantly drops. Furthermore; female ligers are capable of breeding every year as a female liger from China gave birth on consecutive years. A Russian female liger named as Zita successfully mated with a male lion at the age of 8 years to produce liliger cubs in 2012. She again gave birth to another litter of liliger cubs in 2013 at the age of 9 years.

Female Ligers Start Breeding
From 4 Years Female Ligers can Breed
Till 15 Years Female Ligers can Breed
Every Year

The world’s first Li-Liger cub was born at the Novosibirsk Zoo in Russia in 2012. | Fact - 71

In 2012; the world's first Li-liger cub was born at the Novosibirsk Zoo in Russia. A female liger named as Zita gave birth to a single female Li-Liger who was named Kiara by the zoo authorities. Then in the subsequent year, Zita again gave birth to a litter of 3 Li-Liger cubs in 2013. However; another source (Wild Cats of the World, 1975) claim that the world's first liliger was born in 1943 at Germany's Hellabrunn Zoo. The source also claims that it was a female Li-liger and it successfully grew up as an adult. Apart from that there is no further description about that liliger.

World's First LiLiger
Born in 2012 Location
Novosibirsk Zoo, Russia Number of Liligers
1 Liliger in 1st Litter Gender of Liliger
Female Liliger Name of Liliger
Kiara the Liliger

The world's first Ti-Liger was born in 2007 at the Wynnewood Zook in Oklahoma, USA. | Fact - 72

The world's first Ti-Liger was successfully born and reared at the Wynnewood Zoo in 2007. The zoo at that time (2007) was known as G.W. Zoo or the Garold Wayne Zoo. The zoo's director "Joe Exotic"; claimed in 2013, that six years ago he put a tiger and a ligress together in an enclosure and the ligress gave birth to the world's first tiliger cub. In 2009, another Ti-Liger named as Radar the Ti-Liger was rescued and brought to the Tigerworld animal sanctuary located at North Carolina, USA.

World's First Tiliger
Born in 2007 Location
Wynnewood Zook, Oklahoma, USA In 2009
Radar the Ti-Liger was Born Radar the Ti-Liger
Lives at Tigerworld Tigerworld is an
Animal Sanctuary in North Carolina

The world's first male Li-Liger cub was also born at the Wynnewood Zoo in 2017. | Fact - 73

In 2017; Wynnewood Zoo again made big headlines, when one of their female ligers successfully gave birth to the world's first male Li-liger. Two Li-Ligers cubs, one male and one female were born at that time and they weighed about 3.6 pounds with a length of almost 11.5 inches long. The name of the world's first male Li-Liger was Boco. Apart from that recently in 2019; one male Li-Liger has been recently reported at the Red River Safari in Oklahoma, USA while another one has been reported at the Care Foundation in Florida, USA.

1st Male Liliger
Born in 2017 Location
Wynnewood Zook, Oklahoma, USA Numbers of Male Liligers
1 male & 1 Female Size of Liliger cubs
3.6 Pounds & 11.5 inches Long

Surprisingly; Li-Ligers (unlike their parents) have rosettes (spots) of leopards and jaguars on their tawny brown colored fur. | Fact - 74

The most mysterious fact about Li-Ligers is that their fur at birth and even in adulthood have rosettes of leopards and jaguars. Neither lions nor tigers have rosettes. Lions do have spots when they are born but the Li-Ligers' rosettes are very different to lions' spots when they are young. As the liligers get old these rosettes tend to fade away but not entirely and remain clearly visible. Ti-Ligers on the other hand are rather similar to tigers and have stripes.

Liligers have
Rosettes of on their Fur Rosettes of Liligers
Resemble Leopards & Jaguars Liligers' Parents
No Rosettes Liligers' Rosettes
Fade Away with Time

Both Li-Ligers and Ti-Ligers become bigger than lions and tigers but they don’t get as big as ligers. | Fact - 75

Both Li-Ligers and Ti-Ligers have the potential to outweigh and outsize lions and tigers. Yet still neither of them fails to surpass the weight and size of ligers. Tigerworld animal sanctuary at North Carolina, USA is the only place, where you can witness a liger and tiliger together. Both of them are of same age and in terms of their sizes, the liger named as Wayne truly outsizes and outweighs Radar the Ti-Liger. On the other hand; the Wynnewood Zoo's Ti-Liger in enclosure was much bigger than a tiger. Both Li-Ligers and Ti-Ligers weigh around 700 to 800 pounds while ligers weigh 800 to 900 pounds.

Liligers & Tiligers
Bigger than Lions & Tigers Liligers & Tiligers
Smaller than Ligers Liligers & Tiligers
Weigh 700 to 800 Pounds Ligers Weigh
800 to 900 Pounds

In addition to ligers, countries with Li-Ligers or Ti-Ligers (either one of them) include Russia, USA, China, and Argentina. | Fact - 76

The Li-Ligers and Ti-Ligers are even more rare than ligers. Only four countries in the world have them which include USA, Russia, China and Argentina. China had its first litter of Li-Ligers in 2019 at the Hainan Tropical Wildlife Park while Argentina had its first litter of Ti-ligers in 2017 at the Lujan Zoo located in suburbs of Buenos Aires. According to the estimates there are as many as 20 Li-ligers and Ti-Ligers (aggregate) in the world.

Countries with Liligers
Russia, USA & China Countries with Tiligers
USA & Argentina Liligers & Tiligers
20 in Total Tiligers in Argentina
In 2017 @ Lujan Zoo

Both Li-Ligers and Ti-Ligers are fertile and they successfully crossbreed with male lions and tigers to produce Li3-ligers and Ti3-Ligers or the third-generation liger hybrids. | Fact - 77

Just like the female ligers both female Li-ligers and Ti-Ligers have successfully given births to Li3-Ligers and Ti3-Ligers. A Li3-Liger has a male lion as its father and a female Li-Liger as its mother, whereas; a Ti3-Liger has male tiger as its father and female Ti-Liger as its mother. Both Li3-Ligers and Ti3-Ligers are also classified as the third generation of liger hybrids. The world's first Ti3-Ligers were born in 2019 and the world's first Li3-ligers were born in 2017 at the Wynnewood Zoo. Surprisingly; the recently born Ti3-Ligers born at the Wynnewood Zoo were the white Ti3-Ligers.

World's First Ti3-Ligers
Were Born in 2019 World's First Ti3-Ligers
Were White Ti3-Ligers World's First Li3-Ligers
Born in 2017 Location
Wynnewood Zoo, Oklahoma, USA

Wynnewood Zoo in USA is the only zoo in the world to have ligers, tigons, ti-ligers, li-ligers and even ti3-ligers and li3-ligers. | Fact - 78

Wynnewood Zoo which is located in Oklahoma, USA is the only zoo in the world with greatest collection and variation of the hybrid big cats chiefly from the lion and tiger hybridization. The zoo has ligers, tigons, li-ligers, ti-ligers, li3-liger and ti3-ligers. No other zoo in the world has this much variation of lion/tiger hybridization collection as the Wynnewood Zoo does! The zoo is also one of the leading sources of the big cat hybridization knowledge in the world.

Wynnewood Zoo
Most Variants of Hybrid Big Cats Wynnewood Zoo has
Ligers & Tigons Wynnewood Zoo has
Ligers & Tiligers Wynnewood Zoo has
Li3-Ligers & Ti3-Ligers

Male ligers have never successfully mated with female ligers, tigress and lionesses which makes them sterile. | Fact - 79

Male ligers have never successfully mated with ligresses, tigresses or lionesses. Despite the fact that male ligers have been put with tigresses and ligresses, so far; they have failed to produce any offspring yet. Their failure to produce any offspring have led the biologists to conclude that male ligers are usually sterile. However; according to the liger expert Dr. Bhgavan Antle, male ligers can also potentially produce an offspring.

Male Ligers Never
Successfully Mated Male Ligers are
Thought to be Sterile Dr. Bhagavan Antle
Male Ligers can Reproduce

Male ligers are sexually very active and they have been witnessed frequently mating with their female partners i.e., ligresses and tigresses etc. | Fact - 80

Despite being labeled as sterile, the male ligers have been witnessed sexually very active. They have been seen frequently mating with their female partners within their shared enclosures. Active sexuality within male ligers indicates that their testosterone levels are also very high. A liger named as Vulcan has been photographed mating with its female companion, a Bengal tigress at the Jungle Island, in Miami, Florida, USA.

Male Ligers are
Sexually Active Male Ligers
Have Strong Urge of Mating Vulcan the Liger
Seen Mating with a Tigress Male Ligers have
High Testosterone Levels

Ligers have comprehensively featured within National Geographic's documentary “Super Cat”. | Fact - 81

In National Geographic's documentary "Super Cat", ligers were comprehensively featured and compared with all the other big cats. The documentary also concluded that in terms of massiveness, body strength and biteforce ligers are living-breathing super cats. However; the documentary also questioned whether the bigger size always the better one in the wild? Hercules the liger from Myrtle Beach Safari, South Carolina USA had the honor to feature in that documentary and it is one of the most comprehensive documentaries about ligers.

Ligers in National Geographic
Super Cat Documentary Ligers were Declared
Supercats for Strength & Size Hercules the Liger
Featured in that Documentary Super Cat is the
Most Comprehensive Documentary about Ligers

Liger cubs at the time of birth are of same size as the size of the tiger cubs. | Fact - 82

Both liger cubs and tiger cubs are of same size and weight at the time of birth. According to sources from Myrtle Beach Safari; the liger cubs at the time of birth are roughly 2 to 3 pounds in weight while tiger cubs also fall in same weighing range. Both liger cubs and tiger cubs are about 11.5 inches long at the time of birth. However; after the birth, the liger cubs experience growth spurt and they grow much faster than the lion cubs or tiger cubs. At 2 months old, a liger cub weighs almost 16 pounds while at same age a tiger cub weighs around 9 pounds in weight.

Liger Cubs & Tiger Cubs
Same Weight & Size Liger Cubs Weigh
2 to 3 Pounds Tiger Cubs Weigh
Also 2 to 3 Pounds Liger Cubs after Birth
Grow Faster than Lion/Tiger Cubs

A liger cub at birth can be recognized with their visible dark colored stripes with tawny brown colored fur. | Fact - 83

At the time of their birth the most dominant features of liger cubs include dark stripes on their tawny brown colored fur. Tiger cubs have dark stripes on orange stripes. Earliest breeders of ligers during the 18th century related the head of the liger cubs as that of the lion cubs while rest of the body was related with stripes of the tiger. Both liger cubs and lion cubs have spotted marks on the foreheads. Liger cubs maintain their spotted marks while lions spotted marks fade away as they grow older. Tiger cubs also have spotted marks but they are rather linear.

Liger Cubs are Recognized
By Facial Markings & Stripes Liger Cubs' Stripes
Very Dark Liger Cubs' Facial Marking
Spotted

The first biggest known litter of the liger cubs can be traced back in 1992, when a tigress in USA gave birth to Quintuplet liger cubs. Hobbs the biggest of all ligers was one of them. | Fact - 84

The world's biggest litter of the liger cubs includes a total of 5 liger cubs (Quintuplets). No other tigress has given birth to more than 5 liger cubs so far on a single occasion. It happened in 1992, when somewhere in Indiana a tigress gave birth to 5 liger cubs. Similarly; in 2012, a tigress from China's Rongcheng city at the Nature Reserve zoo also gave birth to the Quintuplet liger cubs.

Biggest Litter of Liger Cubs
Quntuplet Ligers (5 Liger Cubs) Quintuplet Litters
Happened Twice 1st Quintuplet Liger Cubs
1992 in USA 2nd Quintuplet Liger Cubs
2012 in China

Ligers keep on growing for longer period of time as compared to lions and tigers. | Fact - 85

Ligers not only have the faster growth rate as compared to lions and tigers but their growing years are also longer than lions and tigers. Lions and tigers grow till the age of 4 years but ligers keep on growing till 6 years and sometimes little more. Some liger experts claim that ligers keep on growing all their lives which is rather controversial because if they keep on growing all their lives then why ligers lose weight after surpassing their prime? And why they don't grow pass 12 feet long body length?

Ligers Grow for
6 Years Ligers' have more
Growing years Lions & Tigers
Grow for 4 Years Ligers Do Not
Grow All Their Lives

Ligers’ reciprocal hybrid cousins are the tigons who are not as big as ligers but they do grow up to the same size as that of lions and tigers. | Fact - 86

If father is a tiger and mother is a lioness, the offspring is called Tigon. Tigons are the reciprocal hybrid cousins of ligers. However; they do not grow as big as ligers but they do grow equal to lions and tigers (400 to 500 pounds). The tigons' stripes are pretty much darker than the stripes of the ligers and their fur is rather orange-brown in color as compared to the tawny brown colored fur of the ligers. Previously; it was thought that tigons are dwarfs but this is not true at all.

Tigers are
Ligers' Reciprocal Cousins Tigers are
Smaller than Ligers Tigons can Grow
Equal to Lions & Tigers Tigers are
Not Dwarfs

Kate Winslet and Jay Leno are one of the most famous names who has interacted with ligers on a live TV show. | Fact - 87

Kate Winslet; the Oscar winning actor and one of the biggest names of Hollywood has personally interacted with ligers in 1999 on the live TV show of Jay Leno. Kate Winslet was so much overwhelmed by that gigantic 900 pounds appearance of the liger that she quickly hopped at the back of her sofa as soon as she saw the liger. Jay Leno himself fed a bottle of milk to the liger under the supervision of Dr. Bhagavan Antle. A male liger named as Samson from the Myrtle Beach Safari was brought to the Jay Leno show in 1999.

Celebrities have also
Engaged with Ligers Kate Winslet
Interacted with Liger Jay Leno
Fed Milk to Liger Kate Winslet
Hid Behind Sofa After Watching Liger

Currently; all ligers are born in captivity and there are no ligers living in the wild. | Fact - 88

Ligers all over the world are born and live in captivity while no verified account of the wild liger has so far been reported. The existence of the wild ligers requires an area or habitat, where lions and tigers live together. People do say that India's Gir forest is the place, where lions and tigers co-habitat together. But in reality, this is not co-habitation because both lions and tigers are separated far away within the Gir forest which diminishes the chances of crossbreeding and real-life encounter.

All Ligers are
Born in Captivity No Wild Liger has
Ever Been Reported For a Wild Liger
Lion & Tiger Shared Territory Needed

Previously; wild ligers have possibly existed, when the population of the wild lions and tigers was in abundance at their co-habited areas. | Fact - 89

Many researchers believe that wild ligers have previously existed in the wild, when the population of the lions and tigers was in abundance at their co-habited areas. In 1980's book "The Tiger, Symbol of Freedom" Milne specifically mentioned in Chapter 3 that according to some reports tigers under exceptional circumstances could trespass into Asiatic lions' territories (vice versa) and even mated with them to produce ligers and tigons. According to Robert Johnson from Myrtle Beach Safari, lions and tigers had previously cohabited in many countries of the world such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Nepal, Armenia, Bhutan and Soviet Georgia.

Wild Ligers have
Previously Existed Before No Wild Liger has
Ever Been Reported Book which Mentioned Wild Liger
The Tiger; Symbol of Freedom Robert Johnson
Lions & Tigers Co-habited for Years Asiatic Lion & Tigers
Mated to Produce Ligers & Tigons

Ligers have a huge potential to survive in the wild by relying heavily on their physical strength and power. | Fact - 90

The physical strength and power of the ligers are enough to make them huge contenders to survive in the wild. At this power and size, ligers can easily hunt buffalo or even hippopotamus. They have enough speed to chase such huge animals by a suitable ambush. Furthermore; at this size, there will be no challenger to a liger. Even a coalition of the male lions wouldn't be enough to tackle a liger unless some Mapogo or Majingalani kind of a lion coalition come to challenge a liger. Secondly; in prides usually lionesses hunt while ligers can easily assist them in taking down any large prey and at the end ligers may have their liger share. Lastly; if Smilodons and Great American Lions have existed with huge sizes in the wild, then there are equal chances of ligers to survive in the wild.

Ligers' Physical Strength
Can Make them Survive in Wild Ligers can Take Down
Prey of Any Size Ligers may not have
Any Challenger in Wild Ligers can also Easily
Scavenge Meal form Others If Smilodons could Exist
Ligers can also Exist in Wild

Ligers have also played the key role as the brand ambassador for the conservation of the big cat species. | Fact - 91

Ligers are not just merely the hybrid big cats for display at the zoos but according to the liger owners their ligers act like brand ambassadors for the conservation and awareness of the big cat species. Dr. Bhagavan Antle from Myrtle Beach Safari has stated on many occasions that his liger Hercules acts as the brand ambassador for spreading the information about the conservation of the big cats. According to him, Hercules has helped them in raising funds for the big cats and other animals in the wild.

Ligers are
Brand Ambassadors of Big Cats Ligers Create
Awareness of Big Cats Herules the Liger
Has Helped in Raising Funds Ligers can Finacially Help
Saving Animals in Wild

Most people owning ligers claim that they accidentally bred ligers when one of the male lions fell in love with their tigress. | Fact - 92

Most of the big cat breeders who have bred ligers stress the fact that liger breeding is not intentional at their end. According to Dr. Bhagavan Antle, they have big enclosures, where lions and tigers (both genders) are kept together since they are young and later when they grow up, they fall in love and start crossbreeding to produce ligers. Some other big cat trainers who owe ligers claim that they were not even aware that their tigress was pregnant with one of their lions.

Liger Breeding is
Never Intentional Ligers Get
Bred Accidentally In Big Enclosures
Lions & Tigresses Live Together Sometimes Lion & Tigress
Fall in Love Lion/Tigress Love
Creates Ligers in Captivity

The word liger became part of the oxford dictionary in 1930, after a liger was gifted to the London Zoo in August, 1924. | Fact - 93

According to the British Newspaper archives data, the oxford dictionary decided to add the word liger (as animal) into their dictionary in 1924, when the nawab of Nawanagar (place in Gujarat, India) gifted a male liger to the London's zoo. Several newspapers at that time confirmed the accumulation of the word liger to be added in Oxford dictionary. However; the Oxford dictionary confirms the origin of the word liger from 1930s and defines it as "the hybrid offspring of a lion and a tigress".

Word Liger in Oxford Dictionary
Year - 1930 A Liger Gift Prompted the Word
Liger to be Added in Oxford Dictionary Liger was Gifted
Year - 1924

Ligers were also declared as the favorite animal of the main character (John Heder as Napoleon Dynamite) in the famous blockbuster movie "Napoleon Dynamite". | Fact - 94

Ligers prominently came to the limelight, when they were highlighted in the famous Hollywood movie Napoleon Dynamite. In that movie, John Heder appearing as the main cast of the movie as Napoleon Dynamite not only drew the liger in his sketchbook but also claimed them as his favorite animal which are bred for their skill in magic. The movie further pumped up the exploration of the people for ligers and many people claimed ligers as their favorite animal too.

Ligers were the Favorite Animal
In the Movie "Napoleon Dynamite" A Liger was Drawn
By Napoleon Dynamite Napoleon Dynamite Claimed
Ligers are Bred for Their Skills in Magic

Zoos with ligers capture more visitors' attention than the zoos without ligers. | Fact - 95

Historically; zoos with ligers have gained more popularity worldwide than the zoos without ligers. For example; according to the Salt Lake Tribune the presence of Shasta the liger at Utah's Hogle Zoo helped the zoo to gain top-tier status from mere mediocrity. Similarly; Tim Stoeffl claimed that the presence of Hobbs the liger at the Sierra Safari Zoo helped to zoo to be on map. People take keen interest in zoos which have ligers and love to visit such zoos to watch ligers as curiosity.

Zoos with Ligers
Capture Visitors' Attention Zookeepers Claimed
Ligers Boost Zoos People are Interested
In Watching Ligers

Patrick Hoctor during 1980s and 1990s used to own 7 ligers at its private farm. This is the largest number of ligers owned by a single person at its private facility (excluding zoos). | Fact - 96

A man named Patrick Hoctor used to own at least 7 ligers at its private farm located at Terre Haute in Indiana, USA during 1980s and 1990s. This is the biggest recorded private ownership of the ligers, as no other private owner used to own this much numbers of ligers in the history of ligers. Apart from ligers Patrick Hoctor also had 2 lions and 3 tigers at its private facility. Patrick started working on his private facility in 1982. USA still has also has most numbers of private facilities rearing lions and tigers than any other country in the world.

Patrick Hoctor
Owned 7 Ligers Patrick Hoctor
Maximum Ligers in Priate Facility Patrick Hoctor
Owned Ligersi n 1980s & 1990s

Ligers do not have any scientific name as species but rather they are mentioned as crossbred in their species name as P. leo♂ × P. tigris♀. | Fact 97

Ligers do not have any dedicated species name allotted to them like lions and tigers which include leo and tigris respectively. Ligers are scientifically denoted as P. leo♂ × P. tigris♀, as the hybrid big cat species which explains species leo (male lion) from the genus Panthera mating with species tigris (female tiger) from the genus Panthera.

Ligers have
No Scientific Name Ligers are Denoted
P. leo ♂ × P. tigris ♀

Ligers have also been witnessed within various circuses along with lions and tigers. | Fact 98

Few circuses all over the world have been displaying performances of ligers along with their other big cats such as lions and tigers. A female liger named as Mia has been performing consistently at the circus shows arranged by the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary located in Florida, USA. Mia is a 9 years old female liger which was born in 2010. Apart from USA other countries where ligers have been part of the circus shows include Russia, Italy and Netherlands.

Ligers are also
Performing in Circuses Famous Circus Liger
Mia the Liger Mia Lives at
Big Cat Habitat Other Countries with Liger Circus
Russia, Italy and Netherlands

Ligers are 20 times more powerful than humans. Lions and tigers are about 10 times more powerful than humans. | Fact 99

According to Jeff Corwin, a wildlife biologist based in USA, ligers are about 20 times more powerful as compared to humans. Talking with NBC news, he revealed about ligers being 20 times more powerful than humans while commenting on an unfortunate incidence of Peter Getz in which lost his life after being mauled by a liger inside his enclosure. He also advised never to provoke the big cats especially when they are eating their meals.

Ligers are
20 Times Powerful Than Humans Jeff Corwin is a
Wildlife Biologist