liger, Shambala

liger, Shambala
01-04-2009

01-04-2009

Arrrrgh. How I dislike the crazy and stupid people that maked this poor animal.

02-04-2009

The people at Shambala would agree. In case anyone doesn't know, they are a no-breed rescue shelter for unwanted big cats.

02-04-2009

"raises eyebrows..."

I agree man-bred animals are not cool, like that "x-bear" a cross between a grizzly and a polar bear in london zoo way way back. Thought w ild " x-bear" had been shot in 2006.

Not all hybrids...
02-04-2009

(snippage)

I would agree up to a point. More specifically, that point being raptor hybrids. The breeders in the falconry world have gotten some truly impressive and beautiful hybrid falcons that, as far as I know, are quite capable of breeding on their own.

One of those hybrids, in fact, is a bird I've worked with quite a bit, name of Sabre. He's a Gyr-Saker cross, and he has easily the best "ambassador" personality I have ever seen in ANY raptor, anywhere. He's the only bird I've ever met, outside of my hybrid owl (Screech x Great Horned) from decades ago, that I trust enough to pick up without a glove (yes, he's that careful with his feet).

Another common cross is Gyr-Peregrine. I hope to have the opportunity to get to know one later this year.

Sabre is also one of the most powerful flyers I've ever seen... when he strikes the lure, you'll get an impact you'd think would be more at home in a large hawk!

I think it might be more accurate to say that doing hybrids just because it can be done is the real problem. With falcons, it's being done to get specific traits into the resulting bird (endurance and size of a Gyr, speed of a Saker).

With that said - I see no valid reason to create crosses like a Liger or hybrid bears.

Happy travels.

Blackduiker
19-11-2009

Another preserve just up the road from my home.