Самый большой белый лигр наконец-то вымахал в полный рост

Ligers Age, Lifespan Survival

A liger has an average lifespan of around 12 to 15 years. This lifespan of a liger is exactly same as that of a lion or a tiger. Both lions and tigers in captivity live for around 12 to 15 years. On the other; lions and tigers in the wild live for around 8 to 10 years.

The longest living liger till know was a female liger named as Shasta the liger. Shasta the liger lived for 24 years. Upon her death, her body was preserved and she is honorably standing at Bean Museum in USA. Some critics believe that ligers have a small lifespan which is absolutely wrong because in majority of our studies and observations, ligers have a normal lifespan like that of the other big cats i.e., lion and tiger.

Short Life Span (Ligers)? False

Normal Life Span 12-15 Years

Largest Recorded Age 24 Years

Nook the Liger 21 Years

Hobbs the Liger 15 Years

Shasta the Liger 24 Years

The age of Shasta the liger was 24 years which is a world record for a liger’s age. On average a liger lives for around 12 to 15 years. Source: 

Critics also posit that ligers are prone to blindness, confused personality and kidney failures. They also state that they have a short body structure and because of that they fail to move normally like other big cats. However; the researchers who have bred ligers for years strongly negate such statements.

According to Dr. Bhagavan Antle ligers are physically and mentally as strong as lions and tigers. They live a normal life and they are not vulnerable to any kind of blindness, confused personality or kidney failures. Even National Geographic have shown skeletal parts of the ligers such as their paws, legs and skull which were clearly larger, longer and bigger than the other big cats. So critics have only fabricated negative myths about ligers while the liger experts have proved them wrong.

Liger & Blindness Myth
Ligers & Genetic Defects Myth
Ligers & Kidney Failures Myth
Ligers & Sterility Myth
Ligers Live Normally? Truth

Dr. Bhagavan Antle who is a reknowned liger expert says that ligers are healthy and live a normal life like other big cats. Source:  

How does a liger behaves like? Does it behave like a tiger? Or does it behave like a lion? Or does it has a merged behavior of both lions and tigers?

Примечания

1. Ligers — tigerfriends.com/ligers.html  (англ.).
2. ↑ 12Hercules, the 900lb liger, crosses Abbey Road and takes the Underground as he goes on a tour of ‘Sixties London’ — www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1246550/Hercules-900lb-liger-crosses-Abbey-Road-takes-Underground-goes-tour-London.html  (англ.). Mail Online (28 января 2010).
3. Tom Phillips Hercules the liger — putting the ‘very very big cat’ back in ‘big cat’ — www.metro.co.uk/weird/810669-hercules-the-liger-putting-the-very-very-big-cat-back-in-big-cat  (англ.). Metro.
4. Dr Bhagavan Antle Dr Bhagavan Antle, Ligers are Grrrrreat… — www.ligerliger.com/articles.php. — They are the result of a male lion and a female tiger that have been raised together and decide they like each other enough to breed..
5. Allison Degen What is a Liger? — www.readington.k12.nj.us/773201212151834180/lib/77320121215183418/Newspaper_Dec_07.pdf. The Bobcat Ledger (December 13, 2007).
6. ↑ 12Biggest Cat in the World — www.foundationtv.co.uk/brilliantcreatures/ser5/show4item3.html  (англ.). The Foundtion TV (2002). («There are only twelve of them in existence in the world today!»)
7. Dr Bhagavan Antle Ligers are Grrrrreat… — www.ligerliger.com/articles.php. — Similar to pizzlies (polar bear / grizzly bear hybrids) and wolphins (whale / dolphin hybrids), ligers may have existed in the wild for thousands of years. Over vast amounts of time and due to declining lion and tiger populations however their territories no longer overlap..
8. Corky Siemaszko It’s a Lion & a Tiger, and Man Is It Huge! — www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2005/02/17/2005-02-17_it_s_a_lion___a_tiger__and_m.html  (англ.). New York Daily News (17 февраля 2005).
9. ↑ 12The 10ft Liger who’s still growing… — www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-338009/The-10ft-Liger-whos-growing-.html  (англ.). Mail Online (16 февраля 2005).
10. Hercules the Liger — urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_liger_hercules.htm  (англ.). About.com:Urban Legends (3 июня 2005).
11. Sarah Hartwell Why are the Ligers so much Bigger than Tigons? — www.messybeast.com/genetics/growth-dysplasia.htm  (англ.).
12. К чему приводит жизнь в неволе — www.trud.ru/article/29-09-2009/229571_k_chemu_privodit_zhizn_v_nevole.html. «Труд» (29 Сентября 2009).
13. Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees — transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0502/18/acd.01.html. CNN (February 18, 2005). (Видео — www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAnaWU3R6ag)
14. Tom Phillips Hercules the liger — putting the ‘very very big cat’ back in ‘big cat’ — www.metro.co.uk/weird/810669-hercules-the-liger-putting-the-very-very-big-cat-back-in-big-cat  (англ.) (January 2010).
15. ↑ 12«It’s Pretty Much My Favorite Animal…» — jungleisland.com/blog/2008_06_01_archive.php  (англ.) (30 июня 2008).
16. The Director of T.I.G.E.R.S. Bhagavan Antle — tigerfriends.com/docbio.html  (англ.).
17. Hercules on the Today Show video — www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfPxfyCj66M
18. Mike Celizic Animal sanctuary worker dies after attack by ‘liger’ — today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27469562/ns/today-today_people/  (англ.). today (Oct. 31, 2008).
19. Ligers — www.tigerfriends.com/ligers.html. T.I.G.E.R.S.. — Our ligers were raised on a baby bottle, and they still enjoy getting them as treats. They are not tame from these activities, they are trained to behave. They will still bite or even kill someone given the right set of circumstances..

Ligers Weight, Size and Appearance

Ligers usually weigh around 900 pounds. Lions on the hand weigh around 450 pounds while tigers weigh around 550 pounds. These statistics clearly indicate that ligers weigh twice more than lions or tigers. However; it is not the weight that makes a liger bigger than a lion or a tiger. Liger also has a huge body structure as well.

For example a liger has a length of almost 11 feet long whereas; a lion or a tiger has a length of around 8 to 9 feet. This longer length allows a liger to gain more strength, bigger muscles and heavier weight. Similarly; standing on its four feet a liger can gain a height of almost 6 feet (Five and a half feet) while a lion or a tiger can only manage a height of around four and a half (4.5) feet. Therefore; a liger not only has a huge weight, but it also has a bigger body structure as compared to a lion or a tiger.

Size 2X Lion/Tiger

Weight 900 Pounds

Maximum Weight 921 Pounds

Body Length 11 to 12 Feet

Height 6 Feet

The average weight of a liger is around 900 pounds. Source  

The overall visual appearance of a liger resembles that of a lion. For example a liger has a tawny skin which makes it closer in resemblance with a lion (A lion has a tawny brown skin), while a tiger has an orange skin.

However; the pattern of the stripes on the skin of the liger makes it resemble closer to the tiger. Ligers also have stripes but these stripes are not as much darker as that of a tiger. But some tigers such as Golden Tabby Tigers also have lighter stripes like a liger. Many people also confuse Golden Tabby Tigers with Ligers. Some ligers have a mane around their neck as well which again makes them closer in resemblance with a lion. On the other hand; the facial markings of the liger and the pattern of its tail resembles it closer to a tiger.

Color Tawny Brown

Skin/Fur Tiger’s Stripes

Neck Lion’s Mane

Tail Tiger’s Tail

Facial Appearance Tiger Markings

The stripes on the skin of a liger make it closer in resemblance to that of a tiger. Source:  

Why ligers are so big? What is the average growth rate of a liger? How much food a liger consumes in a single sitting

Population of Ligers

There are around one hundred (100) ligers in the world right now. As mentioned earlier, all of these ligers are living in captivity i.e., zoos, animal sanctuaries, private farms and menageries etc. Today; the biggest population of the liger lives in United States, where; there are more than 40 ligers.

China is on the second spot, where there are almost 20 ligers. Other countries which have ligers include Russia, Germany, South Korea, Mexico, South Africa, Taiwan, Australia and Indonesia. In Taiwan it is illegal to breed liger. India does not have any ligers right now, but it is believed that history of the captive ligers started from India when three liger cubs were born during 1799, and were presented to the Queen of Britain.

Population of Ligers

Total Population 100

United States 40

China 20

Russia 10

Other Countries 30

The total estimated population of the ligers in the world is around 100. Majority of these ligers live in United States and China. Source 

How big is a liger? How much does it weigh? What is the height and the length of a liger? And what is the growth rate of the liger?

Физические данные код

Все 400 кг Геркулеса на представлении в парке «Джангл Айленд»

В то время как рост льва может достигать 2,8 м, рост стоящего на задних лапах Геркулеса составляет 3,7 м. Являясь самцом лигра, он в два раза крупнее обычного льва и в двадцать раз сильнее среднего человека. Геркулес весит более 400 кг при том, что это подвижная кошка гигантских размеров, которая не страдает от ожирения. Геркулес может развить скорость до 80 км/час, хотя обычно у него не возникает такой необходимости. Геркулес ежедневно съедает более 9 кг мяса (обычно это конина, говядина или куриное мясо), а за один раз он может съесть около 4,5 кг мяса. По словам Бхагавана Энтла, Геркулес может съедать и 45 кг мяса в сутки, и если бы ему давали столько пищи, его масса достигла бы 700 кг, но при этом он не смог бы нормально передвигаться.

Геркулес занесён в Книгу рекордов Гиннеса (2006 год) как самый крупный представитель кошачьих из живущих на Земле. В этой книге ему посвящена отдельная страница. Возможно, есть более крупные страдающие ожирением лигры, чем Геркулес, но в Книгу рекордов занесён именно он, стройный и здоровый.

Естественные враги лигра

Фото: Как выглядит лигр

Лигры – самые крупные кошачьи, но они не живут в естественной среде обитания. В теории, если бы лигры освоились на какой-либо территории, они быстро бы встали на вершину пищевой цепочки, и естественных врагов у них бы не было. У лигров есть ряд заболеваний (помимо бесплодия у самцов), которые могут давать серьезные осложнения для нормальной жизни.

Лигры склонны к психическим расстройствам. Дело в том, что тигры и львы имеют разную знаковую систему общения. Из-за этого у лигров иногда происходят сбои, вследствие которых они не могут понять друг друга или своих сородичей. Например, у тигров и львов разная система предупредительных сигналов, поэтому лигры могут видеть угрозу в мирных сигналах других кошек.

Такая ситуация может наблюдаться даже в отношениях лигрицы с детенышами – она может не понимать их знаковую систему, унаследованную от льва-отца, из-за чего отказывается от детей и их воспитывают смотрители зоопарков. Лигрицы склонны к депрессиям из-за несовместимости образов жизни. Они одновременно склонны к социальному взаимодействию, но в то же время нуждаются в уединении. Из-за этого лигрицы даже впадают в депрессии. У лигров-самцов такого поведения не наблюдается — они любят находиться в центре внимания.

Из-за веса лигры испытывают огромное давление на лапы и позвоночник, что чревато заболеваниями костей и суставов. Также невозможно установить продолжительность жизни лигров – они доживают до 24 лет, но ученые уверены, что гибнут звери из-за заболеваний, а не вследствие естественной смерти.

Ligers Growth Rate Food Consumption

What makes a liger so much bigger, as its parents both the lion and the tigress do not grow as much as 900 pounds. So why are ligers able to grow so much huge and a gigantic? Many researchers and big cat experts believe that ligers do not have growth inhibiting gene. This lack of growth inhibiting gene allows the liger to grow at a faster rate as compared to a lion or a tiger till the age of its maturity.

Some people believe that ligers grow all their lives, because they do not have growth inhibiting gene. This is absolutely wrong! Ligers do lack growth inhibiting gene but they only grow till the age of maturity i.e., 4 years maximum like all other big cats, and after that their growth stops. However; it is still very early to say what makes ligers so huge, as more and more research needs to be carried out in this regard. Lacking of the growth inhibiting gene is the only possible explanation up till now.

Growth Unusually Fast

Growth Period 4 Years

Growth Genes Growth Inhibiting Genes

Grows All Life? False

Ligers do not have growth inhibiting genes. Therefore; as a result of that ligers are able to grow much bigger as compared to their parents i.e., lion and tiger. Source:  

As mentioned earlier, a liger has a growth period of around 4 years. Ligers on average grow around 1 pound per day. However; a closer observation also reveals that in between second and third years of its life, a liger even grows at a rate of 2 pounds per day as well.

Lions and tigers are unable to match this much faster growth rate, as they only grow at around half a pound per day during their growth years. Moreover; a liger cub at the time of its birth is also equal to the lion and tiger cub. Therefore; the growth rate of the liger is faster than that of a lion or a tiger during its growth period days.

Growth Rate Fastest

Average Growth 1 Pound/Day

Peak Growth Periods 2 Pounds/Day

Lion/Tiger Growth 1/2 Pound/Day

On average a liger grows around one pound per day (During its growth days). Source:  

So how much a liger eats in a single sitting? According to Dr. Bhagavan Antle, who has more than 40 years of experience with ligers, a liger is capable of eating more than one hundred (100) pounds of meat in a single sitting. However; this will make him an obese big cat. Therefore; a liger is usually given a meat of around 30 pounds per week.

And what kind of a food is given as a meal to a liger? Dr. Bhagavan Antle states that ligers are given as a meal known as a “King’s Diet”, which is a mixture of minced meat comprising of beef, mutton, deer, chicken and turkey. Lions and tigers on the hand eat about 12 to 15 pounds of meat per week.

Food Meat (Carnivore)

Normal Meal 30 lbs/Day

Maximum Meal 100 lbs per Meal

Lion/Tiger Meal 10 lbs/Day

Normally an adult liger is given around 30 pounds of meat per week. A liger can eat more than 100 pounds of meat in a single meal. Source:  

Ligers are big, huge and heavier but this does not a mean a liger will be a slow moving big cat. A liger is capable of running at around 50 to 60 miles per hour. Lions usually run at around 50 miles per hour while tigers run at around 60 miles per hour. The longer length and stronger muscles of a liger allows it to gain a speed of around 50 to 60 miles per hour.

Moreover; they also allow the liger to have bigger leaps while running as well. This speed of a liger is measured by Dr. Bhagavan Antle at its animal preservation station known as Myrtle Beach Safari, South Carolina, USA.

Speed Capability Fast Short Bursts
Maximum Speed 50-60 Miles/Hour
Speed Location Myrtle Beach Safari
Cheetah Speed 70 Miles/Hour
Lion Speed50 Miles/Hour
Tiger Speed 55 Miles/Hour

Liger can run at a speed of around 50 to 60 miles per hour. In the above picture a liger is chasing an object at full throttle and at the same time its speed is measured as well. Source:  

How long does a liger live? What is the average age of a liger? Do the ligers life a short span of life?

Ligers Behavior

Behaviorally; ligers possess behavioral characteristics of a lion as well as a tiger. Ligers love to roar like lions. However; they are not as aggressive as male lions but rather they have a very mild personality. Ligers inherit this mild personality from their mother i.e., tigress. Similarly; ligers love to swim and play in water which makes them behaviorally closer to tigers.

Lions do not like water and they only swim in extreme and rare situations. Ligers are highly social which again makes them behaviorally closer to lions as they are the only big cat species which live in groups. So behaviorally a liger possesses blend of behavioral traits of lions and tigers.

Liger Behavior Lion/Tiger Mixed
Liger Roars Like a Lion
Liger Chuffs Like a Tiger
Liger Socializes Like a Lion
Liger swims Like a Tiger

Just like tigers, ligers are also great swimmers and they love playing in water. Source:  

What’s the biggest cat on planet earth? Which liger weighs the maximum? Which is the biggest liger in the world?

Самая большая кошка в мире.

15.02.2012 12:30

Лигр Геркулес – самая большая кошка в мире. Когда этот колосс стоит на задних лапах, он самую малость (30 см) не дотягивает до четырехметрового роста. А мы с вами помним, что крупный африканский лев не достигает и 2,8 м. Вес киски – более четырехсот кг. Дикие кошки в два раза меньше этого зверя.При этом лигр Геркулес подвижен, не страдает от ожирения и неплохо бегает. Гигант развивает скорость около 80 километров в час.

Что же за порода такая — лигр? Это плод любви льва и тигрицы. В дикой природе они не встречаются: естественную среду их обитания разделяют тысячи километров. Львы владеют территорией африканской саванны, а тигры – это азиты.

Насколько я знаю, ученые-генетики не скрещивают их специально, как например саванну. Живя в неволе, в вольерах зоопарков, в цирковых семьях, на просторах заповедников, крупные кошки иногда производят на свет потомство.

Почему же лигры такие огромные? Все дело в генах. Самцы льва имеют гены, которые способствуют росту потомства, у мужской половины мира тигров  они менее активны. Поэтому лигр Геркулес, у которого папа – лев, а мама – тигрца, вдвое перерос своих родителей, это самая большая кошка в мире. А если любовь случается между тигром и львицей, на свет появляется тигролев, или тигон. А он уже не такой крупный и чаще всего, меньше своих предков.

Во всем мире насчитывается чуть более десятка лигров: только 1-2 процента разных видов диких кошек производят на свет потомство. Не смотря на то, что гигантские кошки не так грациозны, как их дикие собратья, они подвижны, умеют и любят плавать, а лигрицы способны производить потомство, что совсем не характерно для других гибридов. Ученые считают, что своей внешностью лигры напоминают вымершего десятки тысяч лет назад пещерного льва, населявшего Сибирь и Европу.

Но вернемся к лигру Геркулесу. Своим появлением на свет он обязан Льву Артуру и тигрице Айле, которые содержались в одном вольере во флоридском Институте исчезающих и редких видов. Геркулес родился в 2002 году здоровым и крепким. С самого его рождения воспитанием и дрессировкой занимается доктор Бхагаван Энтл. Киска съедает 9 кг. мяса в день, надо же как-то поддерживать 400 кг. веса.

Если верить Википедии, существует еще более крупный лигр – Судан. Хотелось бы увидеть изображение этого колосса. Но как бы то ни было, в 2006 году в Книгу рекордов Гиннеса был занесен самый большой представитель кошачьих– лигр Гегкулес.

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