Liger Population in USA

According to the official estimates, there are more than 50 ligers in USA only. These 50 ligers live at different zoos, animal sanctuaries, animal safari parks, animal reserves and animal rescue centers. The official count of such zoos and sanctuaries etc. with ligers is in between 24 to 28. Over the years; we have witnessed that more and more numbers of zoos and animal sanctuaries within United States are accumulating the ligers within their premises.

The USA has at least 50 ligers at its different zoos and animal sanctuaries etc. and there might be more ligers in USA living in different private facilities across the country.

Some of them have a single liger while others might have as many as almost a dozen numbers of ligers. The chances are there might be more than 50 ligers in United States because a lot of private properties and private animal reserves have ligers and their official count is almost impossible to make. Therefore; let's stick with the official number of ligers as the 50 and explore further about liger counts from different perspectives in this write-up.

Population of Ligers in USA
50+ Ligers in USA Numbers of Total Zoos etc.
24 to 28 US Zoos with Ligers Numbers of Ligers in Each Zoo
As Low as 1, as high as 12 Ligers in Private Residences
Not-Countable Chances are
Numbers of Ligers will be higher than 50 Ligers

If we compare the US population of the ligers with the rest of the world, the US liger population is way high as compared to the population of the ligers in other countries. The other main countries with a significant numbers of liger population include the China, Russia and the Thailand. These countries only started breeding the ligers within the 21st Century and within a decade or so they have also become one of the main references of the liger population in the world.

The United States is the top country to have maximum population number of ligers i.e., 50 ligers. China has 25, Russia has 15 while Thailand has 8 to 10 ligers.

China has in between 20 to 25 ligers, Russia has around 12 to 15 ligers and Thailand has about 8 to 10 ligers at their different zoos, animal sanctuaries and safari parks etc. Even if we combine the numbers of ligers from these countries altogether, their total number marginally reaches the 50 liger mark. Therefore; with 50 numbers of ligers, the USA also tops the list to have maximum numbers of ligers by any country in the world.

USA at the Top
With More than 50 Ligers China on the 2nd Spot
With 25 Ligers Russia on the 3rd Spot
With 12 Ligers Thailand on the 4th Spot
With 8 - 10 Ligers Other Countries
Less than 5 Ligers

The most popular animal safari park to have ligers in USA is the Myrtle Beach Safari. They are also one of the pioneers to introduce the ligers on the mainstream media. Myrtle Beach Safari is located at the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA. Ligers are part of this safari park for decades. Over the years, the Myrtle Beach Safari has introduced a lot of ligers at its premises. Currently; the world's biggest liger i.e., Hercules the liger is also part of the Myrtle Beach Safari. Furthermore; the world's rarest white ligers are also part of the Myrtle Beach Safari.

Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina, USA is the most popular liger safari park within USA for decades. Wynnewood Zoo has maximum numbers of ligers at its premises. i.e., 12 ligers or even more.

Apart from Myrtle Beach Safari, the Wynnewood Zoo in Oklahoma, USA has the maximum numbers of ligers in USA. This zoo has as many as 12 ligers and most probably it is the only zoo in the world to have this many ligers at its premises. In addition to the ligers, the Wynnewood Zoo even has Li-ligers, Ti-ligers, Li3-Ligers and Ti3-Ligers as well. Apart from Wynnewood Zoo, other liger zoos and animal sanctuaries which have ligers have them in numbers of 1 or 2 only.

Myrtle Beach Safari
Most Popular for Ligers Location
South Carolina, USA Myrtle Beach Safari
Pioneers of Introducing Ligers to Mainstream Media Types of Ligers
Ligers & White Ligers Ligers @ Myrtle Beach Safari
For Decades Wynnewood Zoo
Maximum Numbers of Ligers Numbers of Ligers
12 Ligers @ Wynnewood Zoo Types of Liger Generations
Ligers, Ti-Ligers, Li-Ligers, Ti3-Ligers, Li3-Ligers

Another important statistic about the liger population within the USA is about the Floridian state. The state of Florida has the honor to have maximum numbers of zoos, safari parks and even foundations with ligers. There is also a great possibility that the Floridian state of USA, has more numbers of ligers than any other state (Oklahoma marginally closer) of USA. The Jungle Island and the Zoological Wildlife Foundation are the popular destinations in Florida for many years with ligers.

The state of Florida in USA has maximum numbers of ligers and maximum numbers of zoos, animal sanctuaries and foundations etc. that have ligers.

Other zoos and animal sanctuaries with ligers include McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary, Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary, Big Cat Habitat and Octagon Wildlife sanctuary. The Zoological Wildlife Foundation and the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary are one of the newest ones to have ligers. Apart from Florida, as many as 13 states within USA have ligers.

Florida, USA
Most Numbers of Zoos with Ligers Florida, USA
The State with Most Numbers of Ligers Numbers of Zoos with Ligers
6 Zoos with Ligers in Florida Popular Liger Destinations in Florida
Jungle Island & ZWF Miami

A decade ago from the early 2000s to the late 2000s, there were hardly 15 to 20 ligers within very few number of states of United States. In 1980s and 1990s; there seems to be less than 10 ligers within United States and during those days Samson and Sudan were very famous ligers from South Carolina, USA. At the same time, the state of Michigan used to have more numbers of ligers than any other state within United States. In Michigan, a man named as Patrick Hoctor used to own at least 7 ligers at its private reserve.

A decade ago there were around 15 to 20 ligers within USA while throughout 1980s and 1990s, there were around 10 to 12 ligers within United States.

The first ever liger in United States was born in 1948. It was Shasta the liger and she lived for 24 years and died in 1972. When Shasta died, she was the only liger in the world at that time. Shasta also holds the record for the longest living (24 years) liger in the world. These statistics indicate that from 1950s to 1970s, the population of the ligers within United States was merely a single or two ligers. The trend changed in 1980s and 1990s, when the liger population increased to around 1 dozen ligers. During the 2000s, it increased to 15 to 20 ligers and in 2010s, it further increased to almost 3 times with more than 50 ligers within USA.

In 2010s, the population of the ligers increased to almost 3 times (50+ Ligers) within USA. This is one of the highest increase in the liger population than any recent decades of USA.

1948 to 1970s
1 or 2 Ligers in USA 1980s to 1990s
10 to 12 Ligers in USA 2000 to 2010
10 to 15 Ligers in USA 2010 to 2019
50+ Ligers in USA 2010s
Experienced a Huge Rise in Liger Population

Lastly; it is expected that the population of the ligers will grow further not only within United States but also in many countries all around the world. Currently; there are more than 100 ligers in the world and United States has more than 50% of this population share. Ligers are considered as one of the true brand ambassadors for the big cats.

The population of the ligers is expected to increase further in the next decade (2020s) because these big cats offer a very strong message for the conservation of the big cat species.

The ligers captivate people's attention because of their unique and astonishing characteristics which also prompts people to take a very keen interest within the conservation of the big cats. Therefore; the expected rise within the liger population in future may further boost the conservation efforts within the big cats too along the way.

Liger Population in Future
Expected to Increase Further Liger Population Rise
May also Conctribute to Big Cat Conservation