Gov. Landry Advocates for LSU Mascot's Return

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has made a push to revive the tradition of bringing LSU's live tiger mascot, Mike VII, to football games, despite strong opposition from veterinarians. Landry and several state officials, including veterinarian Ralph Abraham, met with LSU's School of Veterinary Medicine dean, Oliver Garden, to discuss the possibility, but the veterinary school confirmed there are no plans for Mike to attend any games this season. Concerns have been raised about the potential stress and health risks to Mike VII, who is now eight years old and has never made a gameday appearance since being adopted in 2017. LSU officials have cited a commitment to responsible care for exotic animals as the reason for discontinuing the practice, which had previously been criticized by animal rights groups. Rep. Wayne McMahen noted that while a younger tiger could potentially be trained for such environments, it would be difficult to acclimate an older tiger like Mike VII to the loud, chaotic atmosphere of a football game. As it stands, fans can expect to see new stadium features this season, but not the live mascot.