GeauxTo
08-29-2007, 08:37 AM
By JORDAN BLUM
Advocate Capitol News Bureau
Published: Aug 28, 2007
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 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, who died in May of renal failure, was a Bengal-Indochinese mix that peaked at about 370 pounds. There are no pure Bengal tiger breeds in North America, Baker said.
Monday’s news 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 the tiger will not attend any of LSU’s initial games in Tiger Stadium. But he 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 nonprofit, animal rescue facility Great Cats of Indiana in Idaville, Ind.
LSU refused to release any photos of Roscoe on Monday. Baker said the university does not plan to release photos until he officially becomes Mike VI in September.
The tiger is being kept in the LSU habitat’s “night house” during the two-week quarantine and acclimation process before he is given freedom to roam in the habitat and become Mike VI.
The tiger was the dominant cub of a litter that resulted from “unintended breeding.” Roscoe was kept with his siblings at Great Cats until he was donated and transported to Baton Rouge, said Baker, LSU’s laboratory animal medicine director.
Continued concerns remain about the new tiger’s stress and possible separation anxiety from his family, Baker said.
“It’s the equivalent of a 10-year-old boy who was taken out of his home and transported to a place he’d never been before,” Baker said. “That’s a big stress.”
But there have been no problems so far, he said.
“He is extremely confident, interactive, inquisitive and friendly toward people,” Baker said.
“Not only is he very handsome, with markings unlike any tiger we have ever had, but his personality is remarkable,” Baker said.
Roscoe has not growled much, Baker said, but he has been very vocal in his “chuffing” — a happy noise.
Pete Haynes, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, said, “It’s a happy time for the LSU community and so many of the Tiger fans who have warmly embraced our mascot for so many years.”
Roscoe appears to be the perfect fit for LSU in “size and temperament.” He is muscular, confident, friendly and unafraid, Baker said.
Roscoe’s parents also are friendly and exquisite creatures that reflect well on Roscoe’s future years, he said.
But Baker continued to caution the need to take everything slowly.
“This tiger has never seen grass,” he said, referring to LSU’s tiger habitat. “It will be a new experience for him.”
Baker said he investigated several dozen tigers before settling on Roscoe. There was one other top candidate that was disqualified because of “complications” in its past.
When asked how a live tiger mascot compares to other schools with mascots like dogs, Baker said, “I can get a bulldog at a pet store — no offense to Uga,” referring to the University of Georgia mascot.
LSU also addressed the pending U.S. Department of Agriculture investigation into Great Cats. LSU officials said they checked out the facility thoroughly and are confident the concerns revolved around cleanliness issues, which resulted from funding and personnel shortages.
Although the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals continue to complain about LSU keeping a tiger on campus, Baker said he is not worrying.
“It’s not a concern for me — not my issue,” he said.
Advocate Capitol News Bureau
Published: Aug 28, 2007
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 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, who died in May of renal failure, was a Bengal-Indochinese mix that peaked at about 370 pounds. There are no pure Bengal tiger breeds in North America, Baker said.
Monday’s news 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 the tiger will not attend any of LSU’s initial games in Tiger Stadium. But he 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 nonprofit, animal rescue facility Great Cats of Indiana in Idaville, Ind.
LSU refused to release any photos of Roscoe on Monday. Baker said the university does not plan to release photos until he officially becomes Mike VI in September.
The tiger is being kept in the LSU habitat’s “night house” during the two-week quarantine and acclimation process before he is given freedom to roam in the habitat and become Mike VI.
The tiger was the dominant cub of a litter that resulted from “unintended breeding.” Roscoe was kept with his siblings at Great Cats until he was donated and transported to Baton Rouge, said Baker, LSU’s laboratory animal medicine director.
Continued concerns remain about the new tiger’s stress and possible separation anxiety from his family, Baker said.
“It’s the equivalent of a 10-year-old boy who was taken out of his home and transported to a place he’d never been before,” Baker said. “That’s a big stress.”
But there have been no problems so far, he said.
“He is extremely confident, interactive, inquisitive and friendly toward people,” Baker said.
“Not only is he very handsome, with markings unlike any tiger we have ever had, but his personality is remarkable,” Baker said.
Roscoe has not growled much, Baker said, but he has been very vocal in his “chuffing” — a happy noise.
Pete Haynes, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, said, “It’s a happy time for the LSU community and so many of the Tiger fans who have warmly embraced our mascot for so many years.”
Roscoe appears to be the perfect fit for LSU in “size and temperament.” He is muscular, confident, friendly and unafraid, Baker said.
Roscoe’s parents also are friendly and exquisite creatures that reflect well on Roscoe’s future years, he said.
But Baker continued to caution the need to take everything slowly.
“This tiger has never seen grass,” he said, referring to LSU’s tiger habitat. “It will be a new experience for him.”
Baker said he investigated several dozen tigers before settling on Roscoe. There was one other top candidate that was disqualified because of “complications” in its past.
When asked how a live tiger mascot compares to other schools with mascots like dogs, Baker said, “I can get a bulldog at a pet store — no offense to Uga,” referring to the University of Georgia mascot.
LSU also addressed the pending U.S. Department of Agriculture investigation into Great Cats. LSU officials said they checked out the facility thoroughly and are confident the concerns revolved around cleanliness issues, which resulted from funding and personnel shortages.
Although the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals continue to complain about LSU keeping a tiger on campus, Baker said he is not worrying.
“It’s not a concern for me — not my issue,” he said.