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Since 1934, Louisiana State University (LSU) has had a succession of live Bengal tigers—all of them named Mike—imprisoned on campus in Baton Rouge. Used as a mascot, "Mike the Tiger" is removed from his cage on game days and paraded in front of screaming sports fans. Mike V, the university's most recent "mascot," passed away on May 18, and we're urging LSU not to replace him with another tiger.

Big cats and other live-animal mascots don't belong at athletic events. Regardless of whether or not they were born in captivity, tigers and other exotic animals are severely distressed by the overwhelming noise, crowds, and confusion of games and other events. In their natural environments, tigers roam many miles of territory, hunt, and raise their young. Animals kept as mascots are denied all these things. A college campus may be home to the "wild life" of frat parties and cheerleaders, but it is no place for an animal whose natural home is a forest or jungle.

Please contact the chancellor of LSU to urge him to follow the progressive example of most pro sports teams and other college teams, which choose to use only costumed humans as mascots, a much more effective and humane option. Inform the chancellor that you will not attend athletic events or donate money—both huge sources of revenue for the university—until LSU discontinues the live-animal mascot program.

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