Ligers and Tigons, oh my

This story really captured my imagination. It's especially fun that these particular babies are the result of a natural affection between two animals raised together -- it gives one hope that peace among creatures is possible.

Three Liger Cubs Born in Russian Zoo
11.14.2005
MosNews
Three liger cubs have been born in the Novosibirsk Zoo to unusual parents: an African lion and a Bengalese tigress, the zoo’s director Rostislav Shilo told RIA Novosti Monday. The cubs are called ligers, a term derived from their parents’ species, lion and tiger.
The cubs were born as a result of a genuine attachment between the lion and the tigress who have been kept in neighboring cages since childhood. Such a cross would be impossible in a natural environment, since tigers and lions only mate with their kin.
The litter is the couple’s second, the zoo director added. In summer 2004 ligress Zita was born in the zoo. Zita is now one year and four months old. "She is growing and developing like any other young animal," Shilov said about the ligress. "She runs, she plays around, there are no problems with her at all."
It is hard to say whether the ligress looks more like a lion or a tiger, but she behaves more like a tiger, zoo keepers say. When she is angry or getting ready to attack, she holds down her ears like tigers do, they said. Zita also loves to swim, while young lions do not.
At the moment staff at Novosibirsk Zoo are considering the possibility of scientific research linked to the ligers.
"Whether they can breed, have cubs of their own, mate with lions, or only with tigers, this is what’s really interesting and what we are going to study," Shilov said.
Meanwhile, the newly-born liger cubs are not yet on public display, as they need to have vaccinations and gain some weight and strength.