Ligers and Overlapping Territories of Lions and Tigers
Do the territories of lions and tigers overlap with one another? The answer is no because Most of the lions in the world are in Africa. Africa has the largest population of the lions. Similarly, most of the biggest population of the tigers resides in South Asia, South East Asia and in the far east region of Russia. So generally speaking the territories of lions and tigers do no overlap with one another because both tigers and lions are geographically isolated from one another.
However, in India there is a place, named as Gir Forest where both the tigers and lions share overlapping territories. Therefore; if there is any possibility of locating a liger in the wild, this will be the best place to locate a liger. But there is no evidence of ligers there and no liger has been found yet being filmed in the wild within Gir Forest. However, people do have stories that ligers use to roam in these areas, hundreds of years ago. But there has been no reasonable proof and evidence to accept such claims right now.
Even some believe that Gir forest is not an ideal place for the tigers to live because it is too dry. Therefore; tigers do not move to the dry areas; where; most of the tigers have their territories while lions also prefer to stay within their respected territories. If the population of wild lions and tigers will increase within this region, it will allow a guaranteed wild interaction in between Asiatic lions and tigers. Nomadic lions who live like gypsies are very likely to end up within tiger areas; thereby resulting in territory overlapping and a possible breeding with a tigress.
The area of Gir forest is about 3000 square miles. This is a huge area. The area is not plain but rather it also comprises of hills as well. The area is a habitat to different kinds of species includes leopards, deer, blue bulls, and other antelopes. Therefore, the area looks like a real heaven for the carnivores. If this area guaranteed a population growth for both lions and tigers, then territory overlap as well as wild liger and wild tigon possibility will be very much within the scenario.
Recently the Indian authorities are deliberately shifting some lions to another forest, where lions will certainly meet tigers. This can put both the species in a very much crossbreeding scenario. However; many argue that tigers being big enough do pose a threat to kill lions as well.
Else in Africa, Europe, America, Antarctica and Australia, there is no such place where tigers and lions share a same territory. North America has mountain lions while South America has jaguars. Europe has Leopards while Australia had Tasmanian tigers (Also extinct now).
Sources and References
Mott, M. (2010). Ligers make a "Dynamite" Leap into the limelight. National Geographic Kids.
Mitra, S. (2005). Gir Forest and the Saga of the Asiatic Lion. New Delhi: Indus Publishing Company.
Hoiberg, D. & Ramchandani, I. (2000). Students' Britannica India. New Delhi: Popular Prakashan Publications.
