• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Thursday, May 19, 2022
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

3 lion-tiger cubs weaned in Nanjing

Carole by BCR
September 13, 2008
in News World
0 0
0
0
SHARES
94
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

3 lion-tiger cubs weaned in Nanjing

For Information about Ligers and Tigons Please Visit: http://bigcatrescue.org/cats/wild/ligers.htm

Three lion-tiger hybrid cubs have made it through their critical first four-months of life at Nanjing zoo. Born on May 4, this year, the baby “ligers”, who have just been weaned, are Nanjing’s first surviving cubs resulting from a natural mating, according to a September 12 report in the Modern Express newspaper.

Keeper Zhu Jialin said the cubs’ African lion father and Bengal white tiger mother were both born at Nanjing Zoo in 2002.

“The first liger cub in China was born here in 2002, but only lived seven days. It was terribly sad for us all. But we were determined to breed a lion-tiger or tiger-lion. So we raised four tigers and three lions together hoping they would eventually mate and breed.” In the end the African lion and Bengal white tiger paired up.

A big cat expert at the zoo said lions are gregarious animals but tigers tend to be solitary. They may play together, but seldom fell in love or form long-lasting bonds. Even in an artificial breeding environment, the chance of them getting pregnant is only 1 to 2 percent. And since liger cubs often suffer from genetic defects, the survival rate is only one in five hundred thousand. Worldwide there are only a few dozen such animals.

This March, Zhu noticed that the cubs’ mother Xiao Xue looked sleepy and was losing her appetite. The experienced keeper realized Xiaoxue was pregnant. As he thought, after 110 days Xiaoxue gave birth to three cubs on May 4.

“It wasn’t easy for her to have three cubs in her first pregnancy,” Zhu said, adding that usually only two were born in a first pregnancy even in Hainan Tropical Wildlife Park, China’s top big cat breeding center.

Three cubs of normal weight of about one kilogram were born, but within four months they had grown to an astonishing 17 kilograms, while at the same age tigers and lions are about 10 and 8-9 kilograms respectively.

The big cat expert explained that “a lion-tiger is very big. An adult weighs around 400 kilograms.” The reason is that the male lion and female tiger don’t transmit growth control genes to their offspring.

The little cubs inherited lion stripes on their heads, and tiger stripes on their legs and tails. Their fur is the same pale yellow as their father’s.

After being weaned, they are on a diet of about 2.5 kilograms of chicken and 2 kilograms of beef a day, plus eggs and milk.

The big question remains how long they will survive. Experience shows most lion-tigers die young because they have low resistance to diseases. The longest surviving liger is 20 year old Lili, who was born in France but lives in the Bifengxia Valley Ecological Park in Sichuan Province. Domestically bred ligers live less than three years.

(China.org.cn by Zhou Jing, September 12, 2008)

http://www.china.org.cn/environment/news/2008-09/12/content_16443833.htm

http://bigcatrescue.org


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Hope leaves SA for China

Next Post

Lions Tigers – Joseph’s Pride update

Carole

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

News World

Enrichment Program @ BIG CAT RESCUE!

May 7, 2022
70
Zanesville Massacre 18 tigers 17 lions 3 cougars gunned down
News World

Zanesville Massacre 18 tigers 17 lions 3 cougars gunned down

October 20, 2021
9k
Vanessa Hudgens Shame
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

September 12, 2021
5.9k
Snow Leopard
News @ BCR

Save Snow Leopards

April 17, 2021
4.5k
Be Safe Out There!
How To Start A Sanctuary

Rules

March 31, 2020
528
Next Post

Lions Tigers - Joseph's Pride update

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Film May 9, 2022
  • Enrichment Program @ BIG CAT RESCUE! May 7, 2022
  • Enrichment May 7, 2022

More From BigCatRescue

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Shop
  • Wish List
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Version

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • About BCR
  • News @ BCR
  • Videos
  • Big Cat Facts
  • Cub Facts
  • Sanctuary Cats
  • Shop and Save Cats
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Abuse Issues
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist