Can a tiger/lion hybrid mate with others their kind and have cubs?

Ive read that in china zoo, a male lion and tiger female become parents to mixed cubs. What i want to know is - will the cubs be fertile, and are them a new race of big cats? and oh, could this happen in the wild?

Can a tiger/lion hybrid mate with others their kind and have cubs?
Generally, hybrids of two different species will be infertile. Occasionally, however, fertile hybrids also occur. This has sometimes happened with the offspring of horses and donkeys, but I've not heard of such cases with large cats.





The linked article has a section on fertile mules. I've read of such cases in more reliable sources as well.
Reply:Male Ligers and Tigons are sterile, Females are fertile.


I have heard of no such occations of Ligers or Tigons in the wild due to difference of courting. Zoos and zoologist tend to frown on cross-species breeding, so most cases of interbreeding between lions and tigers are reported as "accidents". Report It

Reply:Organisms of same species can usually mate and have fertile off-springs. However, organisms that are not of the same species BUT are in the same genus can breed and produce off springs but they will not be fertile. For example. A horse can mate with another horse and produce fertile offsprings. Likewise with a donkey. But when a donkey and a horse mate, though they can produce offsprings, the mule, the mule will not be fertile.





So in answer to your question. The cubs WILL NOT be fertile. They can be classified as a race of big cats. And yes, it would be possible for this to happen in the wild.





I hope that helps :D