The hybrids we hear the most about – like ligers and zorses – don’t actually naturally occur in the wild, and instead are creations of captivity. But elsewhere in the wildlife ecosystem, other species have been known to cross-breed with closely related relatives.
Hybrid animals that have been crossbred in the wild
Coywolf (coyote and wolf)
Ccoyote-wolf hybrids are now widespread in North America, having emerged in the last century. While they are very similar genetically, there are some key differences between coyotes and wolves, which are combined in this hybrid species. Coywolves are larger than coyotes, with more robust jaws, longer legs and bushier tails. Their wolf DNA gives them impressive size and pack-hunting abilities, while the coyote and dog genes contribute to their adaptability and tolerance of urban environments. As a result, coywolves are frequently spotted in cities and suburban areas.
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Narluga (narwhal and beluga whale)
In 1990, an unusual whale skull was discovered in West Greenland, belonging to the Monodontidae family (toothed whales that include narwhals and belugas). Subsequent genetic testing found it to be a beluga/narwhal hybrid, the only evidence of hybridisation known between the only two toothed whale species in the Arctic.
While this single skull isn’t enough to classify the narluga as a distinct species, it sparked ongoing interest in the genetic and behavioral overlap between narwhals and beluga whales.
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In 2018, researchers observed a lone narwhal living with a pod of beluga whales in the St. Lawrence River, more than 1,000 km from its usual range. While not direct evidence of hybridization, it hints at the social flexibility and potential for interspecies interaction in changing environments.
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Grolar bear (polar bear and grizzly bear)
The hybrid offspring of grizzlies and polar bears has been known to exist in the wild, though they remain rare. Although these species are very closely genetically related, they historically occupied distinct ranges – polar bears in the Arctic regions and grizzly bears further south. However, due to the effects of climate change and the shrinking range of sea ice, polar bears have been increasingly wandering into grizzly territory.
One notable case of bear hybridisation involved a female polar bear born in 1989, who mated with two grizzlies and produced four offspring. One of her cubs went on to mate with grizzly males, producing five more “grolars”. A 2024 study found there to be no recent instances of new hybridisation, but scientists have expressed hope that the survival of these hybrid bears might be beneficial for the survival of polar bears in the face of climate change.
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Crossbred animals that exist only in captivity
Liger (lion and tiger)
Ligers result from the mating of a male lion and a female tiger. This crossbreed is extremely unlikely to occur in the wild, as these wild cats usually inhabit different continents (there are some lions in Asia) and ecosystems.
Captive breeding has produced ligers (and the reverse pairing, tigons), but many scientists and conservationists oppose such breeding due to concerns about animal welfare, ethics and health issues common in hybrids.
Zorse (zebra and horse)
Zorses, and other zebroids (hybrids of zebras and other equines like donkeys), are only found in captivity. Although zebras, horses and donkeys share common ancestry and can interbreed, their different behaviours, temperaments and habitats prevent natural hybridisation in the wild.
Mule and hinny
Both hinnies and mules are hybrids, a result of two species breeding together -and in these two cases it's a horse and donkey breeding together. A mule is produced when a donkey stallion mates with a female horse and a hinny is produced when male horse crosses with a donkey female.