Liger is an amazing animal that has
rarely occurred through history and is a true marvel in appearance. So
great is the muscularity and power of the cat that if it ever existed in
the wild, it would have been capable of taking down every animal on
earth!
The largest specie of cat to have ever existed - Liger - is not even a specie at all ~ it is a hybrid ~ a cross between a male lion and a female tiger that is given a scientific denotation of Panthera leo × Panthera tigris. The
name is derivate of its heritage: 'Li' from lion and 'ger' from tiger.
The appearance is indicative of the huge cat's origin ~ a tawny coat is
marked by diffuse stripes and rosettes with a rudimentary mane. The
attributes are also inherited from either parents and is a mix of the
two species ~ Liger likes to swim like tigers and is sociable like
lions. The roar is more like that of a lion and so is the frequent laid
back nature of the cat, in contrast to the ferocious and active
lifestyle of the male tiger.
Hybrids have always existed in the
wild and in captivity and numerous attempts at interspecies breeding of
big cats have always been made throughout history. The hallmark of the
Liger are its massive physical proportions - with a weight over a
thousand pounds and length greater than twelve feet, Liger dwarfs the
biggest lion and tiger in existence. The reason behind this is believed
to be genetic - the male tiger and female lion both have a growth
inhibiting gene that restricts the growth of their respective
offsprings to an extent - the concept behind Liger bypasses this
condition by mating a male lion and a female tiger ~ the resulting cub
can grow lifelong to become twice as big as either of its parents.
Withstanding
all its magnificence - when I look at a Liger I feel awe and I
feel...sorry! Yes it is true (bear me out for a while) ~ I feel sorry
because I see a creature that is not meant to be in nature. I see an
animal that has never existed in the wild and has never been created by
conscientious breeders. An organism that is not a specie in itself
since it is unable to produce fertile offsprings (male Ligers are
sterile!). An animal that lives most of its life in solitude, created
for attracting audience or for Hollywood. A creature marred in its
small population by low lifespan, genetic aberrations and neurological
defects (head shakes in cubs!).
Experts worldwide condemn the
breeding of Ligers as an unhealthy practice. All responsible animal
captivity programs and zoos around the globe never try to mate lions
with tigers.
To
me the Liger depicts the opposite sides of human nature - the side that
craves beauty and ignores everything else and the side that honors the
laws of morality and nature. The side that searches for lion tiger
fight videos on YouTube and the side that condemns them as barbaric
practices after having seen them ~ yes to me the Liger is indicative of
the fickle nature of our own specie. It is for us to decide which side
do we want to take...!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on liger.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
