Louisiana governor supports return of live tiger at LSU games

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) confirmed his support Tuesday for Louisiana State University (LSU) restarting its live tiger mascot entrance during home football games.

“I think the opportunity to bring our mascot back on that field is an unbelievable opportunity,” Landry said during a press conference Tuesday.

It’s been nearly a decade since LSU had a Bengal tiger come out with the football team in Tiger Stadium on campus in Baton Rouge.

Live mascots have been the target of several advocacy groups over recent years.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has objected to the idea of a school using an animal for its sporting events. The organization sent a letter to Landry in early September urging against the tradition and described it as cruel and dangerous to the animal’s welfare. The group said tigers are “naturally solitary animals who don’t belong in rowdy football stadiums,” The Associated Press reported.

The organization said PETA is asking Landry to “drop this bonehead idea.”

In the press conference, Landry argued he wasn’t sure why people opposed the idea.

“So, everybody that has some anxiety over this needs to calm down,” he said. “This is an opportunity for us to showcase the great work that y’all do, academically and athletically, and I’m hoping … that we can come to an agreement.”

LSU and the school’s athletics department have not said they are seeking to revive the tradition.

The live tiger previously would ride through the football stadium in a trailer with cheerleaders at home games. Before the game began, the tiger’s cage would sit next to the visiting team’s locker room and opposing athletes would have to walk past the tiger, the university said.

After the school’s tiger, Mike VI, died from cancer in 2016, the school said tigers would no longer be brought on the field. The university has a new tiger mascot that visitors can see, but it is not brought onto the field.

LSU is not the only school that has a live mascot that advocacy organizations oppose. Yale University has its bulldog Handsome Dan, the University of Colorado Boulder has its buffalo Ralphie and the University of Texas at Austin has its longhorn Bevo.