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Originally Posted by deltagulf
have you heard if they found a new mike since the last one past away earlier this year.
geaux tigers!!!
thursday night espn
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yes they did. peta tried to get them not to have a live mascot. um, yeah.
check this out:
by karen gros
The search for a new Bengal tiger mascot for Louisiana State University is over, according to a statement from the school made earlier this week. The new mascot will be coming from Great Cats of Indiana and meets all of the strict requirements set forth by the University's Vet School for mascot selection, as well as requirements by the USDA. Great Cats of Indiana is a non-profit rescue facility for large animals located in Idaville, Indiana.
The Bengal cat selected by LSU is a 2-year-old male tiger. He will become Mike VI after a two week quarantine period that is required for health and safety reasons. The new Bengal tiger will arrive on campus sometime in August, 2007. A specific date will not be announced to the public, as they want the actual arrival date and quarantine process to be as least stressful on the animal as possible. Once the new Bengal tiger comes out of quarantine and passes all the health requirements, he will be presented to the University as Mike VI. The time frame will likely be just in time for the first opening home football game on September 8, 2007 against Virginia Tech.
The Bengal tiger mascot will be cared for by Dr. David Baker, a veterinarian from the LSU Vet School, who has been caring for previous mascots on campus.
Mike VI will reside in a natural habitat on campus next to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center that cost $3 million to build. Funds were contributed in part by the "I Like Mike" campaign to raise funds for building the new facility. It consists of free space to roam, a waterfall, a stream for swimming built with rocks all around it, trees, natural plants, grassy areas, and a den to sleep in. The entire enclosure is covered with a stainless steel mesh for protection and added security. You will be drawn to the Tower, which stands majestically at 60 ft. tall. It can be seen from surrounding areas and marks the home of the beloved mascot on campus. The total area is over 15,000 square feet. It is one of the finest facilities built for tiger habitation in the United States with state-of-the-art technology. The Tiger Athletic Foundation is responsible for maintaining the facility.
The previous mascot, Mike V, died on May 15, 2007 of renal failure. He was 17 years old and will be remembered as one of the best mascots in Tiger history.