[youtube]CD6vpheUoPE[/youtube] A Liger on National GeographicIn Tainan County of Taiwan, a zookeeper has been accused of crossbreeding two animals, a Bengal tigress and an African lion.
The tigress, named Beauty, and the lion, Simba, had grown up together in the same cage since they were cubs, but started mating three years ago. This was their first pregnancy.
Zookeeper Huang Kuo-nan insists that he did not breed the two animals on purpose.
“Usually when a lion and a tiger are kept together, they will for sure attack each other to death, but these two have been spending time together since they were small,” said Huang.
According to the Wildlife Conservation law, artificial creation of ligers is illegal.
Huang was already “the target for animal welfare advocates when he was accused of selling live tigers and bears as well as tiger bones and bear paws—both believed to have medicinal properties,” said Allvoices.com.
Beauty gave birth to triplets, but only two survived, and both lack the ability to reproduce, like many other hybrids. In spite of this, the mother made no attempt to care for them, and they are currently being cared for by the workers.
Ligers can “weigh up to 450 kilos (992 pounds) once they have reached adulthood and can live for more than 20 years” according to ITV News.
The liger cubs are expected to be confiscated by Taiwanese officials. Huang is expected to be fined an amount equal to approximately US$1,500.
The tigress, named Beauty, and the lion, Simba, had grown up together in the same cage since they were cubs, but started mating three years ago. This was their first pregnancy.
Zookeeper Huang Kuo-nan insists that he did not breed the two animals on purpose.
“Usually when a lion and a tiger are kept together, they will for sure attack each other to death, but these two have been spending time together since they were small,” said Huang.
According to the Wildlife Conservation law, artificial creation of ligers is illegal.
Huang was already “the target for animal welfare advocates when he was accused of selling live tigers and bears as well as tiger bones and bear paws—both believed to have medicinal properties,” said Allvoices.com.
Beauty gave birth to triplets, but only two survived, and both lack the ability to reproduce, like many other hybrids. In spite of this, the mother made no attempt to care for them, and they are currently being cared for by the workers.
Ligers can “weigh up to 450 kilos (992 pounds) once they have reached adulthood and can live for more than 20 years” according to ITV News.
The liger cubs are expected to be confiscated by Taiwanese officials. Huang is expected to be fined an amount equal to approximately US$1,500.
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