Some of us are outraged over a stay tiger’s presence at LSU’s sport towards Alabama … and that features Large 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 wished 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 kind of presumably a violation of the federal Lacey Act and Louisiana’s personal harmful animal legal guidelines, and it additionally sends the flawed message to college students about respect for wildlife,” the “Tiger King” star mentioned. “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 simply and the general public ought to 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 informed a native outlet all the second was meant to honor the college’s historical past of stay mascots … however regardless, the transfer was met with backlash.
“That is about custom,” Landry mentioned. “That is about from Mike I via VI, we’ve had a stay mascot on the sector, like many different faculties have earlier than. In fact, we’re honoring these Mikes. And nobody will take away the dignity, respect and love that we’ve for Mike VII.”
A number of petitions had been created in opposition of the debacle … with one racking up 14,837 signatures voicing displeasure over the plans.
There isn’t any phrase on whether or not the tiger will make an look once more … however it did not give LSU any good luck — the Tigers fell to the Crimson Tide, 42-13.
