Ligers Born in Taiwan, Zookeeper Faces Charges

HO/REUTERS


Zoo owner Huang Kuo-nan at the World Snake King Education Farm in Taiwan may face charges for allowing a tiger and lion to breed, producing a hybrid offspring called a "liger". Huang is also under investigation for trading in endangered species.

Taiwan's Wildlife Conservation law makes the artificial creation of ligers illegal. Huang is expected to be fined approximately $1,500 (USD).

Ligers have a lion father and a tiger mother. "Tigons" have a tiger father and a lion mother. Some genetic aspect of a liger causes them to grow larger than both their parents; they can reach over 900 pounds at maturity.

Only 2 cubs in the litter of 3 survived, and the mother made no attempt to care for them. They are now being cared for at the National Pinghtung University’s Institute of Wildlife Conservation.

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Lion/tiger crossbreed ‘liger’ cubs create controversy