This Cat Is A Freak Of Nature, And It's Bigger Than Any Feline You've Ever Seen
What we used to know as "big cat" has undergone a radical transformation due to the existence of this colossal feline. So when you use the term next time, think bigger!
Meet Apollo, a lion-tiger crossbreed who has recently been crowned the largest cat on the planet. Known as a liger, this cuddly giant is the offspring of a male lion and a female tigress.
Despite the fact that ligers are larger than both their parents, they are relatively tolerant creatures. Yes, you read that correctly—a liger is a much larger animal but less aggressive than a purebred lion or tiger.
Ligers are raised under human care, kept in captivity, and usually bred for scientific purposes, to attract attention, or for entertainment.
Although there are currently no ligers in the wild due to the fact that lion and tiger territories don't overlap, these big cats shared territories in Asia before the end of the 20th century. These man-made beasts get along very well with humans, spending most of their waking hours basking in the company of zookeepers and caretakers.
Even though ligers are not as aggressive as their parents, they should not be treated exactly like any house cat. It's always better to interact with them in the presence of an experienced handler.
Apollo basking majestically in the sun with Kody sitting behind.
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Apollo recently made headlines when he went on a stroll with Mike Holston and wildlife conservationist Kody Antle. The video was then published on YouTube, where it quickly went viral.
This big guy's name is Apollo, and he is the biggest cat on the planet. Now the question is, what would this creature eat? I believe it would eat everything in sight, anything in sight, Mike remarked.
I think a pack of these creatures would take down a herd of elephants regularly for a snack. Such a majestic beast, and it can reach speeds of up to 40 miles an hour in just a couple of steps, he added.
"Jungle boys living in a dream world."
Get a glimpse of the true king of the jungle
The former football star further noted that the liger's teeth are around the size of his middle finger, its tongue as large as his forearm, and its lung about the size of his torso.
Neither of the men could comfortably wrap their arms around its neck, demonstrating just how huge this animal is. Growing up to 11 feet when standing on its hind legs and weighing over 800 pounds, ligers are twice as large as the average lion or tiger.
In fact, people are drawing comparisons between Apollo and the legendary saber-toothed tiger that ruled the animal kingdom 42,000 years ago.
A liger is capable of consuming around 100 pounds of meat in a single sitting, although 25-30 pounds of meat a day is proper nourishment for this big cat. This is double the amount of meat that a lion or tiger consumes.
They are usually fed beef, chicken, or mutton, depending on what their handler makes available.
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