Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards was among many to join the chorus of online tributes for Mike VI, LSU’s live tiger mascot, who was euthanized today following months of treatment for a rare form of cancer.
Mike VI was euthanized in his “night house” on the LSU campus by Dr. David Baker of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, the university announced in a news release.
“Thanks for the memories and all the joy you brought to the #LSU family,” Edwards says via Twitter.
Louis Coleman, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers and an LSU alum, tweeted: “Sad to hear the passing of @MikeTigerVI. He has been my one and only mascot. Started our college days at the same time. #MikeVI #GeauxTigers.”
The death triggered a wave of online tributes for the 11-year-old tiger, which LSU has said was one of only two live tiger college mascots in the U.S. and the only one living on a college campus.
While some tweeted #RIP, other shared photos and videos of the Mike VI.
“RIP to my first friend at LSU, #MikeVI,” one Twitter user said.
A post announcing Mike VI’s death on the tiger’s Facebook page had 7,332 shares and 1,324 comments as of 3:30 p.m. today.
Mike VI was diagnosed in May with spindle cell sarcoma, a rare and inoperable form of cancer. At the time, veterinarians said treating the disease with radiation therapy could extend the tiger’s life by one or two more years. However, Baker announced last week that a CT scan and physical exam showed a tumor in the tiger’s skull had grown and the cancer had spread to other parts of its body.
The 420-pound tiger was 2 years old when it arrived at LSU in 2007, donated by an Indiana animal sanctuary. It lived in a 15,000-square-foot enclosure and yard next to Tiger Stadium.
Last month, LSU announced that Mike VI wouldn’t take the field during home football games this season and instead would remain in its campus habitat.
Baker said last week that LSU has asked him to begin searching animal rescue facilities for a Mike VII.
“We intend to obtain a young male tiger in need of a good home,” he added. “So many of these facilities take on perhaps more animals really than they can manage.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
