A Live Tiger Will Be At Tonight’s LSU-Alabama Game — And Not Everyone Approves

Ferocious animals have long been selected as mascots for athletic teams, but usually the version that shows up at games is just someone in a costume trying to pump up the crowd with some silly dance moves.

That won’t be the case at today’s game between LSU and Alabama.

Release the tiger

It’s been nearly a decade since a live tiger made an appearance at an LSU game, and the team thought its big matchup against the Crimson Tide this weekend would be the perfect opportunity to revive the tradition.

In fact, the gimmick was put in motion by none other than LSU alum Jeff Landry, the current governor of Louisiana. He recommended restoring a practice he remembered from his days at the university and the school agreed.

But it won’t be Mike, the Bengal tiger who lives in an enclosure near the LSU campus.

“As you would expect, it would be very difficult to be able to try to move Mike out of an area he’s never been out of,” the governor said.

Mike is simply too old to attend games, so a younger tiger will be on hand to make an appearance before a stadium expected to be filled with more than 100,000 screaming fans.

Prepare for pushback

Circuses, fairs, and other attractions involving live animals have come under intense criticism over the past few decades over how those animals were being treated. Now, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is among the activist groups setting their sights on LSU and Landry.

“It’s shameful and out of touch with today’s respect for wild species that LSU has bowed to Gov. Landry’s campaign to display a live tiger at its football games to amuse the fans,” said PETA Foundation Associate Director of Captive Wildlife Research Klayton Rutherford.

Chris Agee November 9th, 2024

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