Louisiana State University’s decision to bring a live tiger back into Tiger Stadium is misguided and harmful. Contrary to what some may believe, the environment inside the stadium is far more stressful and dangerous for an animal than a simple enclosure. The noise, crowds, and chaos create a deeply unsettling experience for a solitary animal, causing significant distress. These factors contribute to decreased life spans and poor quality of life.

This tradition was rightly discontinued in 2016 after animal rights organizations highlighted the cruelty and inhumanity of forcing a drugged tiger into such a hostile, noisy environment. There is no valid reason to subject an animal to such treatment—especially when the only justification seems to be for entertainment, rather than the well-being of the animal. 

In September 2024, a report from WRBZ confirmed that a LSU veterinary school spokeswoman stated LSU is "not in discussions to bring Mike to any games this season." However, Governor Landry is attempting to override this decision by instead bringing a different tiger from a source that has been cited numerous times by the USDA for failing to meet minimum federal standards for the care of animals as established in the Animal Welfare Act (Source).

LSU has always been a beacon of excellence, and it goes against our values to involve a live, threatened species in our festivities in a way that could lead to its stress or harm. While we understand the appeal and tradition of having a live mascot, we implore LSU to treat our mascot species with the respect it deserves and prohibit a live tiger from being brought into Tiger Stadium. Please sign this petition to urge LSU and Governor Landry to make the compassionate, responsible, and informed decision to keep this tradition discontinued—prioritizing the well-being of the animal over the spectacle of a football game.

Respectfully,

LSU Wildlife Ecology Students

Below, you will find numerous sources outlining objections and hesitancy to allow a tiger to return to the stadium, as well as local news articles and scholarly articles highlighting the negative effects of using tigers in entertainment.

LSU Reveille. (2024, November 1). Gov. Landry wants Mike the Tiger on the football field. LSU Reveille. Retrieved from https://www.lsureveille.com/news/la-gov-landry-wants-mike -the-tiger-on-the-football-field/article_e64dd44a-8072-11ef-9035-2731ddb23797.html 

WAFB. (2024, November 7). Live tiger returns to Tiger Stadium for bama game. https://www.wafb.com/2024/11/07/live-tiger-returns-tiger-stadium-bama-game/ 

New Orleans Advocate. (2024, November 1). LSU football: Live tiger, Mike, to return to Tiger Stadium for Alabama game. The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved from https://www.nola.com/sports/lsu/lsu-football-live-tiger-mike-alabama-louisiana-mascot-sideline/article_91033540-9d3a-11ef-9fb4-d7065ab4d57b.html 

Brando, S. (2016). Wild animals in entertainment. In B. Bovenkerk & J. Keulartz (Eds.), Animal ethics in the age of humans (pp. 295–318). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44206-8_18

Radford, M. (2007). Wild animals in travelling circuses. Retrieved from https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/16949284/wild-animals-in-travelling-circuses-the-report-archive-defra