Four remarkable male liger cubs, born from an extremely rare white lion and white tiger, have captivated the world with their unique beauty and potential to become the most significant big cats on the planet.
These cubs, named Yeti, Odlin, Sampson, and Apollo, are the first white lion-tiger hybrids, or ligers, ever born.
The proud parents, Ivory the white lion and Saraswati the snow-white Bengal tiger, were brought together at Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina.
With only around 300 white lions and 1,200 white tigers left globally, the birth of these white ligers is a significant event in the big cat world. There are an estimated 1,000 ligers in existence, but none of them are white like these four brothers.
At just six weeks old, these young ligers weigh 15 pounds and gain roughly a pound daily. Each cub has its distinct personality, from the smallest Apollo, who behaves like a house kitten, to the most enormous and boisterous, Yeti.
The cubs’ uncle, Hercules, holds the title of the world’s giant cat in the Guinness Book of World Records, weighing 922 pounds and measuring 131 inches long.
Dr. Bhagavan Antle, founder, and director of Myrtle Beach Safari, believes Yeti may surpass Hercules in size. He remarks on Yeti’s rapid growth, saying it seems as if someone is inflating the cubs with a tire pump.
Dr. Antle, who established the safari 31 years ago and bred his first litter of ligers in 1988, has observed an increase in visitors eager to glimpse the rare white ligers. He describes their creamy color as unlike anything he’s ever seen in a cat.
The cubs are expected to reach 10 feet tall and weigh around 750 pounds by age two, potentially exceeding 900 pounds when they turn four.
Ligers, known for their sociability like lions and love for swimming like tigers, are fascinating animals that intrigue people worldwide.
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