STORY: A rare lion-tiger hybrid cub was born at a private zoo in Romania earlier this year, making a unique addition to the owners collection.

Goliath is a two-month-old liger with a lion father and tiger mother. While tigers and lions would not normally interbreed in the wild—they live on different continents—rare species enthusiasts like zoo owner Soimaru Dorin Ioan can push the two species to mate in a controlled environment.

Ligers are usually larger than either of their parents and are often born with birth defects that mean they are more likely to die young, according to animal sanctuary Big Cat Rescue.

Goliath's sister, born at the same time, did not survive, Soimaru says. Goliath, he says, is healthy. His parents live at a different location.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: ZAHARESTI, ROMANIA (JULY 19, 2025) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. (MUTE) AERIAL VIEW OF ARCA LUI NOE (NOAH'S ARK) PRIVATE ZOO

2. LIGER CUB GOLIATH'S ENCLOSURE

3. GOLIATH THE LIGER CUB IN ENCLOSURE

4. ZOO OWNER SOIMARU IOAN DORIN PLAYING WITH GOLIATH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian) OWNER OF ZOO, SOIMARU DORIN IOAN, 61, SAYING:

"Knowing the fact that ligers exist, I wanted to be able to obtain such a creature."

6. VARIOUS OF DORIN PLAYING WITH GOLIATH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian) OWNER OF ZOO, SOIMARU DORIN IOAN, 61, SAYING:

"He had a sister at birth, there were two of them. He weighed 650 grams and his sister under 600 grams."

8. GOLIATH IN ENCLOSURE

9. CHILD TAKING PICTURES

10. GOLIATH POUNCING ON TOY

11. VARIOUS OF GOLIATH IN ENCLOSURE

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian) OWNER OF ZOO, SOIMARU DORIN IOAN, 61, SAYING:

"I have close to 600 animals, 576 that we know of but keeping in mind that this is the mating season you can never know for sure."

13. VARIOUS OF LEMURS IN ZOO

14. PARROTS IN ZOO

15. GOLIATH IN ENCLOSURE

16. GOLIATH SLEEPING