Ligers can suffer from birth defects and many times die young. Because ligers are usually larger than either parent, the mother tigress can be at great risk during the birthing process, requiring a C-section delivery or dying during birth.

Why are ligers unethical?

Crossbreeding rare, protected species violates Taiwan's Wildlife Conservation Law. Most zoos frown on the crossbreeding of lions and tigers, too. Ligers "are basically freaks bred by unscrupulous zoos in order to make money out of people willing to pay to see them," says Liger.org.

Has a liger ever killed anyone?

An animal handler with thousands of hours of experience has died after being mauled by a 1,000-pound lion-tiger hybrid he was feeding at an Oklahoma animal sanctuary. He was taken to a Tulsa hospital, where he died Thursday night. ...