LIGERS

Ligers are the offspring of male lions and female tigers. They do not normally occur in nature, as the ranges of lions and tigers rarely overlap; but in wild animal preserves, cross-species mating occasionally occurs, resulting in hybrids – ligers or, less frequently, tigons (whose parents are male tigers and female lions). Body forms and striping/spotting vary considerably, with some ligers looking more tiger-like, and others more lion-like. Ligers can grow to immense size. The growth-regulating genes in lions are contributed by the female, and in tigers by the male; not having these genes, 3 to 4 year old ligers are usually half again as large as full-grown lions or tigers; and by the time they stop growing, around 7, the biggest ligers may be twice the size of lions or tigers, weigh 900 to 1500 pounds, and reach 12 feet in height when standing on their hind legs. The Erindale liger combines the dramatic coloring of a tiger with the broad nose and baleful eyes of a lion – an image filled with the magic, mystery and menace that would surely be attendant upon meeting such a fantastic creature in the wild.