Some of us are outraged over a stay tiger’s presence at LSU’s sport towards Alabama … and that features Massive Cat Rescue founder Carole Baskin — who tells TMZ Sports activities the stunt was “blatant disregard for the tiger’s well-being.”
Saturday marked the primary time since 2015 a Panthera Tigris was on the sector for an LSU soccer sport … at state governor Jeff Landry‘s request. He initially needed the host college to roll out its present tiger mascot, Mike, to the sector for pregame festivities … however the college declined.
Landry then resorted to bringing a tiger from Florida … which irked Baskin for a number of causes.
“Bringing a stay tiger to a soccer sport is sort of presumably a violation of the federal Lacey Act and Louisiana’s personal harmful animal legal guidelines, and it additionally sends the unsuitable message to college students about respect for wildlife,” the “Tiger King” star stated. “Trucking a wild animal all the best way from central Florida for a spectacle is a blatant disregard for the tiger’s well-being and reinforces the harmful concept that nature exists solely for our leisure.”
What are your ideas on LSU bringing a stay tiger again into the stadium? pic.twitter.com/rPc8sUH6vI
— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) November 10, 2024
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“The questions that you just and the general public must be asking are if the workplace of Governor Jeff Landry, the Tiger Athletic Fund, or the LSU Police Division spent taxpayer cash or failed in buying the mandatory permits simply to fulfill the governor’s need to see a tiger within the stadium, since Mike the Tiger (their campus mascot) hates going to the video games,” Baskin added.
The Republican governor instructed a native outlet your complete second was meant to honor the varsity’s historical past of stay mascots … however regardless, the transfer was met with backlash.
“That is about custom,” Landry stated. “That is about from Mike I by VI, we have now had a stay mascot on the sector, like many different faculties have earlier than. After all, we’re honoring these Mikes. And nobody will take away the respect, respect and love that we have now for Mike VII.”
A number of petitions have been created in opposition of the debacle … with one racking up 14,837 signatures voicing displeasure over the plans.
There is no such thing as a phrase on whether or not the tiger will make an look once more … but it surely did not give LSU any good luck — the Tigers fell to the Crimson Tide, 42-13.
