This weekend, a live Tiger will return to Tiger Stadium for LSU vs Alabama for the first time in nearly a decade. The decision is one that governor Jeff Landry has been pushing for over the last few months but, it won't be Mike the Tiger on the sidelines. Instead, a 1.5 year old Tiger named Omar Bradley will be brought in from Florida for the game.
Members of the fanbase have been upset with the decision as LSU stopped bringing Tigers into the game after Mike VI was showing adverse symptoms and responses due to the pregame festivities.
PETA is among the group unhappy with LSU and Jeff Landry's decision to bring a live Tiger in for the game as their Associate Director of Captive Wildlife research blasted the decision.
"This tiger in particular is only a year and a half old, and I can very confidently say has never been in a stadium, with tens of thousands of screaming football fans. This is going to be extremely stressful for this tiger."Klayton Rutherford
"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. Whether the tiger is confined to campus or shipped in from elsewhere, no reputable facility would subject a tiger to such chaos and stress."Klayton Rutherford
The claim about no reputable facility comes as outlets are digging into the owner of Omar Bradley the Tiger as he has had two Tigers escape and a handful of citations for his dealings with animals.
Good news everyone, the guy bringing the tiger to LSU-Bama has only had tigers escape from him twice https://t.co/KGl4T5YxMd
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) November 8, 2024
A bad idea to jeopardize losing Mike the Tiger
Whether you are for or against the decision to bring a live Tiger from Out of State to the game, everyone can agree that nothing should be done that could jeopardize losing the ability to keep Mike the Tiger on campus. LSU has faced calls for years to end its tradition of housing Mike and as of late it had been pretty quiet. Now with activists up in arms it once again shines light on the fact that Mike lives on campus which will once again stir up controversy.