By Henry Empeño / Correspondent
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Zoobic Safari theme park here, which became popular because of its animal shows and a close encounter program with tigers, has brought in new attractions: “ligers” and “tigons,” which are crossbreeds of lions and tigers.
Four specimens of the two “new” breeds of the big cats arrived here on Thursday afternoon, instantly creating new stars in an animal farm that has staked its reputation as an interactive zoo of exotic species.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said the new attractions at Zoobic Safari will tremendously boost tourism in the free port, as they are reputed to be among the few specimens in the country today.
“There are really lots of new things to see and experience in Subic,” he said. “Now, we have rare animals that you can only see in just a few places in the world, and Subic is one of them.”
Dr. Norilyn Molleno, the resident veterinarian at Zoobic Safari, said the ligers that arrived here are named “Neema” and “Princess,” while the two tigons are called “Togo” and “Baby.” All are about two years old on the average.
The four crossbreeds arrived here by plane from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with three lions, three lionesses.
Molleno said “ligers” are offsprings of a male lion and a female tiger, while “tigons” are crossbreeds of a male tiger and a female lion.
“Accidental crossbreeding happens in the wild, and it is a good idea that the public should know that this is really possible,” she added.
Molleno said that ligers may weigh from 800 kilograms to 1,000 kg in adulthood at about three years old. They are bigger than the tigons, which weigh only from 500 kg to 800 kg.
Both are bigger, however, than purebred tigers and lions, Molleno said. The crossbreeds and the six other purebred lions were donated by a sheikh in the UAE who wishes to remain anonymous.
The sheikh reportedly donated the animals to Zoobic Safari for educational purposes, but only after confirming that the facility has the capability to handle and take good care of the animals.