5 Comments so far

1. Countess Amillia on July 26, 2009 10:33 AM

   As far as I know, zoos don’t create such hybrids for “newsworthy” purposes. Such animals are the accidental results of having two compatible animals in the same exhibit. Some zoos have many different animals in the same exhibit, not to create a desired hybrid, but to make the exhibit more realistic and likable. However, sometimes two animals that are not the same species will mate and create the hybrids.

2. hobo on July 26, 2009 11:10 AM

   I think crossing species is an incredibly bad idea unless it happens in nature – I really hate zoos For example what is a whaleshark doing in the Atlanta Aquarium – Money Money!

3. wildcatf on July 26, 2009 11:29 AM

   I don’t think it is possible to cross-breed lions and tigers. That would be like trying to cross-breed a chimpanzee with a gorilla. I don’t think that it would work without fatal complications. However, if they did find some way to do that, it would definitely be something worth seeing.

4. birdgirl on July 26, 2009 12:02 PM

   ligers and tigons are named for who the father was….male tiger with female lion= Tigon, male lion with female tiger= Liger. They are not named based on what characteristics they have. Zoos do not breed them on purpose. I know in the past, this happened in zoos exhibiting two different big cats together. I don’t think any have been produced in zoos recently, as zoos separate different species of cats nowadays. And the offspring are sterile so they cannot reproduce further.

5. St N on July 26, 2009 12:53 PM

   Put the bat back in the closet, Mam. I think a newsworthy animal would be a DemRep but the zoos will never create one as the idea is too scary.
   Happy belated Ground Hog Day.