Mortality Rate of Liger Cubs

The mortality rate of the liger cubs is always dependent upon the numbers of observations in which liger cubs have survived or died. Critics have posited that liger cubs have a very high degree of mortality rate. But how do they base such statement? Is it based upon facts? Have they studied the mortality rate of the ligers? These are the questions one should answer before associating high mortality rate with liger cubs. Sadly, from critics only the statements are mentioned online but they have never mentioned the source and their own observations from where they have concluded mortality rate of the ligers and liger cubs. Therefore, let's find the mortality rate of the liger cubs based upon their births, deaths and survival at different animal sanctuaries.

Myrtle Beach Safari is the most famous animal safari park for the ligers in the world. It is located at South Carolina, USA. During 2004, a litter of four liger cubs was born. Then in 2010, a single liger cub was born while in 2013/14 a litter of 4 white liger cubs was born at the safari. So, in total from 2004 till 2013, 9 liger cubs were born in total. All of these liger cubs are still alive today. Moreover; all of these ligers are living a normal life like other big cats. This sample shows that liger cubs have very low mortality rate and they are genetically strong enough to survive.

Let's move to China's Hainan Tropical Wild Animal Park where a female liger has given birth to record 12 liger cubs. Out of these 12 liger cubs from 2004 to 2007, 10 liger cubs are still alive today while only 2 liger cubs died at or after birth. Similarly; in Russia, at least 2 liger cubs were born at Novosibirsk Zoo in Russia. Both of these ligers are also alive today. In 2010, 3 liger cubs were born at a zoo in a Taiwan. Out of these 3 ligers, only 1 liger is alive today. So overall out of these 17 cubs from China, Russia and Taiwan, at least 13 of them are still alive today. These figures indicate that liger cubs have a very low mortality rate. Furthermore; they strongly deny the claims of critics.

These figures of the survival rate and mortality rate of the liger cubs are even better than the survival and mortality rate of the lion cubs and tiger cubs in the wild. According to National Geographic Channel, only 1 in 4 lion cub survives. Some die at birth because of malnutrition while others die because of the other predators or rival lions. In captivity, the survival rate and mortality rate of the lion cubs and tiger cubs is also same as that of the liger cubs. So these figures do indicate that liger cubs either have low or same mortality rate like that of the tiger cubs or lion cubs in captivity.

Dr. Bhagavan Antle who is a big cat trainer at Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina and has more than 40 years of experience with the big cats, considers mortality rate and genetic defects in ligers as nothing more than myths. He says that ligers live a healthy life and they are free of any genetic defects at birth. He also strongly denies about the high mortality rate of the liger cubs. According to Joe Schreibvogel from G.W. Zoo, hybrid animals like ligers are very strong genetically and they are free of any genetic diseases. Joe Schreibvogel has not only bred ligers, but tiligers and liligers at its zoo.

Mortality rate due to genetic defects is not associated with liger cubs. However; poor living conditions are directly related with the mortality rate of the liger cubs. If their mother is living in deplorable conditions before their birth i.e., less spacious enclosures, bad food, lack of proper treatment, illness etc. then the chances are the mortality rate of the liger cubs will be very high. On the other hand; if her mother is enjoying better food and reasonable living conditions, then high mortality rate of the liger cubs will hardly be a possibility.