Growth Rate of Liger Cubs

Liger cubs are fastest than any other big cats; when it comes to their growth rate. Usually; the growth rate period for big cats is the first three years of their life and during this period no other big cat cub can match the growth rate of the liger cubs. On average; a liger cub grows at a rate of 1 pound of weight gain per day. Within this one pound of overall weight gain, liger cubs grow both in terms of height and its length. The average weight gain growth is based upon the total weight of the mature liger (900 pounds) divided by total numbers of growing days i.e., first 3 growth years. On the other hand; lion and tiger cubs grow at around half a pound per day.

However; it is not like this, that the liger cubs right after their birth start growing at a growth rate of one pound per day. During the early few weeks, the liger cubs grow with a weight gain of quarter of a pound per day. But even this growth rate is much faster than that of the tiger cubs and lion cubs. According to LIGERWORLD, a three months old liger cub weighs around 35 pounds, whereas; a three months old tiger cub weighs around 15 to 20 pounds. It takes four and a half months for a tiger cub to reach this weight of 35 to pounds. It should also be noted that the liger cubs, lion cubs and tiger cubs are all fed on milk during the early few months of their lives.

After 3 to 4 months when a liger cub is capable of eating raw meat, a liger cub continues to grow at a much faster growth rate. During the eighth month, the growth of the liger cub reaches at around 1 pound of weight gain per day which is the average growth rate of the liger cub. However; the growth rate of the liger cub doesn't stop here but it surpasses more than 1 pound of growth rate. This growth rate continues to increase till the end of second year. At the end of the second year; a liger cub becomes as big as an adult tiger, as its weight surpasses 500 pounds.

During the 3rd year of its life, the growth of the liger cub (who is now as big as a fully-grown tiger or a lion), starts to decline from more than one pound of weight gain to less than one pound per day. This less than one pound of growth rate is generally experienced by the liger cubs during the latter half of their third year. And by the end of the third year a liger cub almost gains a total weight of more than 850 pounds. It is also observed that a liger cub mostly gains the major portion of its growth till the third year of its life.

Liger cubs also grow during their fourth year as well, but this growth rate is very low, as compared to its growth rate of first 3 years. Furthermore; during the fourth year, the average growth rate of the liger cub is less than 10% of its overall growth of first 3 years of its life. After the fourth year, a liger cub reaches its growth maturity and becomes a fully mature liger. At this stage, the weight of the liger cub reaches more than 900 pounds. Moreover; a liger cub grows 11 feet long and almost 6 feet tall from its front paws to the tip of its ears.

From all this discussion; we can safely conclude that a liger cub possesses faster growth rate, as compared to the lion cubs, tiger cubs or any other big cats. Apart from gaining one pound of weight per day, a liger cub grows at around 3 millimeters in length and 1.7 millimeters in height per day (on average). All the above observations are extracted from Myrtle Beach Safari; which is an animal safari park/zoo and has bred dozens of ligers, tigers and lions at their premises. Most importantly; these weight observations are about healthy and non-obese ligers. The samples of the weights are extracted from Hercules the liger, Sinbad the liger, Wayne the liger and Zeus the liger.