GeauxTo
08-27-2007, 10:17 PM
The new Mike the Tiger arrives at LSU...
http://media.2theadvocate.com/designimages/icons_lilcamhp2.gif New tiger on LSU campus (http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/9397596.html)
By CAPITOL NEWS BUREAU
Published: Aug 27, 2007 - UPDATED: 4:50 pm
Two-year-old Roscoe the tiger is tentatively expected to enter his new habitat and officially become LSU’s Mike VI on Sept. 8 – the day of the home football opener.
The new Bengal-Siberian mix tiger should become LSU’s largest tiger ever and approach 700 pounds in three years, said David Baker, Mike’s veterinarian. Roscoe already weighs nearly 300 pounds, Baker said, and has exceeded his expectations thus far.
“I don’t use this term very often, but he’s awesome,” Baker said.
Mike V, which died in May of renal failure, was a Bengal-Indochinese mix that peaked at about 370 pounds.
Monday’s press conference with Baker marked the first time the head of the Mike the Tiger search process has publicly spoken since Mike V died.
When and if Roscoe becomes Mike VI, Baker said it will not attend any of LSU’s initial games in Tiger Stadium. But it could attend some later in the season if all goes well..
The donated tiger arrived at LSU late Saturday afternoon after a Tiger Athletics Foundation-funded plane ride from Indiana. Roscoe was born and raised at the non-profit, animal rescue facility Great Cats of Indiana.
LSU does not intend to release any photos of Roscoe until it becomes Mike VI.
By JORDAN BLUM
Advocate Capitol News Bureau
Published: Aug 27, 2007 - Page: 1A - August 26
The anticipated next Mike the Tiger arrived in Baton Rouge via plane late Saturday afternoon from Indiana, LSU officials confirmed.
“After a long ordeal, the tiger is here,” said Michael Ruffner, LSU vice chancellor of communications.
“It could not have gone better,” Ruffner said of the plane trip and the subsequent Acadian Ambulance ride. “Everything was flawless.”
The 2-year-old, male Bengal tiger will now undergo a two-week quarantine or “acclimation” process at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine before the tiger officially becomes Mike VI.
The quarantine is a health and safety precaution.
The tiger came from Great Cats of Indiana, a nonprofit, large animal rescue facility.
The tiger’s arrival was delayed about a week because of fears that Hurricane Dean could have hit Louisiana, Ruffner said.
That delay and the two-week quarantine could be the difference in whether the tiger is prepared for an introduction at LSU’s home football opener against Virginia Tech in 13 days — Sept. 8.
Ruffner said Mike’s veterinarian, David Baker, and his team will decide when the tiger is ready to meet fans. The vet school will release more information Monday, he said.
“It’s an exotic animal and temperamental, so all sorts of things could be bothersome to it,” Ruffner said. “It’s hard to predict how long it’ll take to get acclimated to the noise and crowds.
“We all have to be patient,” he said.
LSU continues to receive complaint calls from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. LSU maintains that the tiger will receive the best care with its elaborate habitat and outstanding veterinary care, Ruffner said.
The tiger’s predecessor, Mike V, died in May of renal failure at LSU at age 17.
http://media.2theadvocate.com/designimages/icons_lilcamhp2.gif New tiger on LSU campus (http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/9397596.html)
By CAPITOL NEWS BUREAU
Published: Aug 27, 2007 - UPDATED: 4:50 pm
Two-year-old Roscoe the tiger is tentatively expected to enter his new habitat and officially become LSU’s Mike VI on Sept. 8 – the day of the home football opener.
The new Bengal-Siberian mix tiger should become LSU’s largest tiger ever and approach 700 pounds in three years, said David Baker, Mike’s veterinarian. Roscoe already weighs nearly 300 pounds, Baker said, and has exceeded his expectations thus far.
“I don’t use this term very often, but he’s awesome,” Baker said.
Mike V, which died in May of renal failure, was a Bengal-Indochinese mix that peaked at about 370 pounds.
Monday’s press conference with Baker marked the first time the head of the Mike the Tiger search process has publicly spoken since Mike V died.
When and if Roscoe becomes Mike VI, Baker said it will not attend any of LSU’s initial games in Tiger Stadium. But it could attend some later in the season if all goes well..
The donated tiger arrived at LSU late Saturday afternoon after a Tiger Athletics Foundation-funded plane ride from Indiana. Roscoe was born and raised at the non-profit, animal rescue facility Great Cats of Indiana.
LSU does not intend to release any photos of Roscoe until it becomes Mike VI.
By JORDAN BLUM
Advocate Capitol News Bureau
Published: Aug 27, 2007 - Page: 1A - August 26
The anticipated next Mike the Tiger arrived in Baton Rouge via plane late Saturday afternoon from Indiana, LSU officials confirmed.
“After a long ordeal, the tiger is here,” said Michael Ruffner, LSU vice chancellor of communications.
“It could not have gone better,” Ruffner said of the plane trip and the subsequent Acadian Ambulance ride. “Everything was flawless.”
The 2-year-old, male Bengal tiger will now undergo a two-week quarantine or “acclimation” process at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine before the tiger officially becomes Mike VI.
The quarantine is a health and safety precaution.
The tiger came from Great Cats of Indiana, a nonprofit, large animal rescue facility.
The tiger’s arrival was delayed about a week because of fears that Hurricane Dean could have hit Louisiana, Ruffner said.
That delay and the two-week quarantine could be the difference in whether the tiger is prepared for an introduction at LSU’s home football opener against Virginia Tech in 13 days — Sept. 8.
Ruffner said Mike’s veterinarian, David Baker, and his team will decide when the tiger is ready to meet fans. The vet school will release more information Monday, he said.
“It’s an exotic animal and temperamental, so all sorts of things could be bothersome to it,” Ruffner said. “It’s hard to predict how long it’ll take to get acclimated to the noise and crowds.
“We all have to be patient,” he said.
LSU continues to receive complaint calls from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. LSU maintains that the tiger will receive the best care with its elaborate habitat and outstanding veterinary care, Ruffner said.
The tiger’s predecessor, Mike V, died in May of renal failure at LSU at age 17.