Tigons are a result of selective crossbreeding, rarely occurring in the wild. In the 19th century, zoos bred hybrid big cats to attract the public, but today this practice is prohibited in most zoos due to conservation issues. In Britain, tigons were still exhibited in some zoos during the 1960s. Belle Vue Zoo in Manchester had a succession of tigons between 1936 and 1968. In the U.S., tigons were found in some zoos until the 1970s. Nowadays, tigons are still bred and exhibited in Chinese zoos.
A tigon is generally smaller than a lion or tiger, and less robust than either parent. However, the actual size depends on which subspecies of tiger and lion are bred, and how their genes interact. Tigons often have long legs, where the stripes are easily seen. In December 2000, Australia's National Zoo in Canberra acquired two tigons from a circus, a male and a female. The tigons were a result of an accidental crossbreeding, and the zoo decided to give them a place on humane grounds, despite having a policy against hybrids. Although the male was smaller than a tiger, the female tigon had the same size of an adult female tiger.
Tigons are often pale ochre to rust yellow-brown. Their color is generally more intense than in the lion, but lighter than in the tiger. Tigons show the tiger striping inherited from their father, and lower body parts are white as in tigers. Male tigons develop a very short mane, but much later than lions, as well as a small tuft at the end of the tail.
Tigons and other hybrid cats can suffer from behavioral conflicts due to their mixed genetic background. Lions and tigers have very distinct behaviors. Lions rarely climb trees or play in water, which is a characteristic behavior of tigers. Tigons may inherit a fascination with water or tree climbing, to the distress of the lioness mother. Tigons can show conflicting social habits. While the lion heritage compels them to form prides, their tiger background wants them to be solitary animals.
