CHD Report post Posted July 30, 2005 The 10ft Liger who's still growing... He looks like something from a prehistoric age or a fantastic creation from Hollywood. But Hercules is very much living flesh and blood - as he proves every time he opens his gigantic mouth to roar. Part lion, part tiger, he is not just a big cat but a huge one, standing 10ft tall on his back legs. Called a liger, in reference to his crossbreed parentage, he is the largest of all the cat species. On a typical day he will devour 20lb of meat, usually beef or chicken, and is capable of eating 100lb at a single setting. At just three years old, Hercules already weighs half a ton. He is the accidental result of two enormous big cats living close together at the Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species, in Miami, Florida, and already dwarfs both his parents. "Ligers are not something we planned on having," said institute owner Dr Bhagavan Antle. "We have lions and tigers living together in large enclosures and at first we had no idea how well one of the lion boys was getting along with a tiger girl, then lo and behold we had a liger." 50mph runner... Not only that, but he likes to swim, a feat unheard of among water-fearing lions. In the wild it is virtually impossible for lions and tigers to mate. Not only are they enemies likely to kill one another, but most lions are in Africa and most tigers in Asia. But incredible though he is, Hercules is not unique. Ligers have been bred in captivity, deliberately and accidentally, since shortly before World War II. Today there are believed to be a handful of ligers around the world and a similar number of tigons, the product of a tiger father and lion mother. Tigons are smaller than ligers and take on more physical characteristics of the tiger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azcouesandelk Report post Posted July 30, 2005 I dont like cats that is all I got to say. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kilimanjaro Report post Posted July 30, 2005 Was he bred for his skills in magic?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DEERSLAM Report post Posted July 30, 2005 That's one BIG PUTTY TAT! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grizzly Report post Posted July 31, 2005 Tigons are totally stupid and reek like poo! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arizona Griz Report post Posted July 31, 2005 Tigons are smaller than ligers and take on more physical characteristics of the tiger. This does't make sense since the Siberian Tiger is the largest wild cat on earth. Anyways that is one big cat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coueshunter Report post Posted July 31, 2005 Siberian cat is a purebred. This is a Liger, it would not fall under normal catagories therefore would not be compared to any other species. It is unique..........As for the lady, she really looks like Craig Boddingtons wife. Anybody know if she is? just curious.........AT....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arizona Griz Report post Posted July 31, 2005 Siberian cat is a purebred. This is a Liger, it would not fall under normal catagories therefore would not be compared to any other species. It is unique.......... Allen, I know that. What I am saying is that you would think that the Tigon would be the larger of the two, tigon or liger, since the tiger is larger than a lion. It is just a name game anyways. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted July 31, 2005 As for the lady, she really looks like Craig Boddingtons wife. Anybody know if she is? just curious.........AT....... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's not a lady, that's a man baaaby! YEaaaaahhhh! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KGAINES Report post Posted August 1, 2005 How long before you can hunt one in Texas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grizzly Report post Posted August 1, 2005 I just hope the big guy doesnt pull a Monticor one day and decide to "save" somebody. That thing could wipe out a small village. That brings up an interesting point though about why two certain "friendly" Germans havent shared their love with a liger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
