Never underestimate the adaptability of nature.
I was reminded of this again by a Smithsonian Magazine article entitled “Five Shocking Animal Hybrids That Truly Exist in Nature, From Narlugas to Grolar Bears to Coywolves” by Carlyn Kranking (https://getpocket.com/explore/item/five-shocking-animal-hybrids-that-truly-exist-in-nature-from-narlugas-to-grolar-bears-to-coywolves?)
Some of these are pretty predictable, like the liger, the result of a male lion and female tiger, which actually happened in captivity. Others have been the work of humans— the beefalo, a combination of cattle and buffalo bred for meat.
Of course, the greatest opportunities for exotic hybrids is in the wild. As the climate changes, the ranges of the grizzly and polar bears have begun to overlap. Grizzlies are tending to move to the warming north as humans continue to encroach in their more southern habitats, and polar bears are forced south due to melting sea ice, which they need for hunting seals, their main food supply. That’s how we get grolar (or pizzly) bears!
For more examples, including the coywolves (coyotes and wolves) and narlugas (narwhals and a beluga whales) mentioned in the title, just follow the link above.