Vet professor: Mike the Tiger has special evacuation plan

Vet professor: Mike the Tiger has special evacuation plan

Lindsey Meaux
Staff Writer

Published: Friday, August 29, 2008Updated: Saturday, August 30, 2008

The fate of the University’s beloved multi-million dollar mascot Mike the Tiger remains uncertain as Tropical Storm Gustav, forecast to be a Category 3 hurricane, closes in on the Gulf Coast.

David Baker, Mike’s primary caretaker, refused to explain what plans are in store for Mike.

“I’m sorry to report that your colleagues at the Reveille chose to destroy their relationship with me last year, so I know longer do interviews for that group,” Baker said in e-mail correspondence with The Daily Reveille.

Because of Baker’s refusal to cooperate, it is unclear what will be done with Mike once Gustav makes landfall.

But Rebecca McConnico, clinical science professor at the Vet school, said Mike has an evacuation plan that is different from other campus animals.

“Mike will be taken care of,” she said.

Sam Winslow, assistant director of BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo, called Mike’s on-campus holding area “better than adequate.”

Captive animals are entirely dependent on humans for food, water and protection from the elements said Ryan Huling, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals spokesman.

“Since LSU knows that they are located in a hurricane zone, we’d expect that they’ve constructed hurricane-proof housing for the tiger and made provisions to evacuate Mike to an area of safety,” Huling said.

http://www.lsureveille.com/vet_professor_mike_the_tiger_has_special_evacuation_plan

http://bigcatrescue.org