Liger Hercules in Guinness Book of World Records

Hercules the liger has twice appeared within Guinness Book of world Records. On first occasion; Hercules the liger appeared during Guinness Book of World Records during 2006. On second occasion; Hercules featured within Guinness Book of World Records during 2014. On both occasions; Hercules the liger, was classified as the largest living cat on planet earth; by the panel of experts. The weight and size of Hercules the liger was twice more than the weight and size of the tigers and lions. Moreover; Hercules the liger was also regarded as the largest hybrid cat living on planet earth in 2014. The recorded weight of Hercules the liger; during the year 2014 was 922 pounds. Previously; Hobbs the liger; which also featured within Guinness Book of World Records, weighed 962 pounds.

According to Guinness Book of World Records, Hercules the liger was not only biggest but also non-obese big cat. He was the fittest and biggest liger (and big cat) during 2014. Dr. Bhagavan Antle; who has raised Hercules the liger, says that Hercules could also gain 300 to 400 pounds more weight but that would have made him an obese big cat. This also means that Hercules has grown bigger on fair grounds; and no unfair growth treatment has been used to make him the biggest cat of the world. Dr. Bhagavan Antle has more than 40 years of experience with the big cats and ligers. He is raising ligers at Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina, USA and has raised more ligers than any other individuals in the world which is also a record as well.

More and more records about ligers are building around the world, especially in the 21st century but Hercules the liger has a special privilege to appear twice within Guinness Book of World Records. For example; in 1972, Shasta the liger made the world record of largest living liger (24 years). In 2007; a tigress gave birth to a record numbers of liger cubs. Similarly; in 2012, a female liger in Russia; gave birth to world’s first Liliger cub. Russia also has a world record of maximum numbers of Liliger cubs. In 2014; world’s first white liger cubs were also born as well. In 2015; world’s first male liliger cub was born in USA. All of these are world records and they could be the part of Guinness Book of World Records but Hercules had a dominant record among all the liger records.

So; the question is why Hercules the liger has been included within Guinness Book of World Records and others don’t have? The answer is Hercules the liger has not only made a single record but many records. Apart; from weight Hercules, the liger is 12 feet long, which makes him the longest big cat in the world. Hercules is the only liger to make a continental traveling from North America to Europe. Hercules is also as tall as 6 feet. Hercules is also one of the most photographed liger in the world. Hercules is also the most talked-about liger in the world. There are more articles about Hercules the liger than any other liger in the world. Hercules the liger has 3 more brothers who also weigh more than 900 pounds and are of same age as of Hercules the liger. No other litter of ligers are more than 900 pounds in weight. All of these records; are the core factors to accumulate Hercules the liger to be included within Guinness Book of World Records.

Dr. Bhagavan Antle, is already very proud of Hercules the liger because of his worldwide popularity. A lot of people from USA and globally specifically come to meet Hercules the liger at Myrtle Beach Safari. According to Dr. Bhagavan Antle; appearing in Guinness Book Record is just a normal recognition for Hercules the liger; because Hercules has already been recognized on a lot of other entities at global level as well. According to him Hercules the liger, has been the brand ambassador for the conservation of the big cat species and this is even much greater recognition for him. Hercules has a global respect and recognition. As a big cat, Hercules the liger has accomplished a lot than any other big cat.

Moksha Bybee has been another liger trainer at Myrtle Beach Safari, who has raised Hercules the liger. She has raised Hercules the liger and his brothers since they were small cubs. That’s why in 2014; when Hercules the liger was recognized in Guinness Book of World Records, Moksha Bybee also appeared along with Hercules the liger as well. She can often be seen feeding, hugging, caressing and even riding on the back of Hercules the liger as well. Moksha Bybee is also among very few liger trainers who has appeared within Guinness Book of World Records. Only China York and Rajani Ferrante has previously appeared as female liger trainers on Guinness Book of World Records.

China York is also a liger expert at Myrtle Beach Safari. She has also appeared with Hercules the liger in Guinness Book of World Records 2006. At that time, ligers in general were recognized as the biggest big cat hybrids and Hercules the liger appeared as a recognition and hallmark of all those big cat hybrids. China York appeared as tempting Hercules the liger to climb up for a meat on an elongated stool. The key purpose of this activity was to show the general public about the actual length of the ligers i.e., 12 feet long. Hercules is one of the first ligers which China York has raised. She has also raised white liger cubs at Myrtle Beach Safari as well.

In one of the pictures, appearing on Guinness Book of World Records 2014, Moksha Bybee can be seen feeding milk to Hercules the liger. If we compare it with the diet of Hercules, which is around 30 pounds per day; this milk bottle is just nothing. When the media asked about it to Dr. Bhagavan Antle, he simply replied that ligers are trained to get busy with the trainers and this milk feeding is part of the training to keep Hercules the liger busy as well. He says that even though these big animals look well-tamed but from their natural instinct, they always possess all aggressive attributes. Therefore; keeping the big cats busy and making them act in a certain way is good for the safety of the animal trainers as well.