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| Mike V, LSU's Royal Bengal tiger mascot, is no house cat, but the LSU community is raising funds to furnish the cat with a new house. The Tiger Athletic Foundation has partnered with LSU administrators to plan a newer, better enclosure that would be more like the tiger's natural environment. "Mike is LSU. We have an obligation to take care of him," said DeLaine Emmert, wife of LSU Chancellor Mark Emmert. Mrs. Emmert is chairing the project along with Bill Hulsey, former president of the TAF board of directors; and Danny Aguirre, TAF development officer. She said the design of the new habitat will be in keeping with the tiger's best interests. If the habitat cannot meet all of the tiger's needs at its existing location, then the new home will be built somewhere else on campus. "Mike comes first," she said. The design, contractor and price of the new habitat have not been finalized, but the plans will include recommendations from Mike's veterinarian, Dr. David G. Baker of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, and Ron Forman, CEO of the Audubon Nature Institute. Baker said the size of the habitat will increase to include natural layers of grass, gravel and sand. The plans will also include elements of the university's Italian Renaissance architecture and interactive screens to educate Mike's visitors on the five subspecies of tigers. Mike V may relocate to a nearby zoo during construction. The Tiger Athletic Foundation has been raising funds for the new habitat with the "I Like Mike" campaign. The grass roots fund-drive is a collaborative effort between TAF and student organizations including Student Government, Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council. Tiger-striped trucks donated from Royal Nissan will be parked at the LSU Parade Ground, Pete Maravich Assembly Center, tiger enclosure and Tiger Stadium prior to all LSU home football games to collect donations. All who give receive an "I Like Mike" sticker for their contributions. Donors may also mail their gifts to TAF's office in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Send checks or money orders to "I Like Mike," Tiger Athletic Foundation, P.O. Box 711, Baton Rouge, La. 70821. "We want the students and faculty to take ownership of this. No state funds will be used for this project," said Bobbie Grand, TAF public relations officer. More fund-raisers are being developed by TAF to involve everyone interested in Mike's new home. One idea is to sell $100 bricks that will be engraved and used in the construction of the enclosure. A book recounting the history of Mike the Tiger will also raise funds for the new habitat. Mike's present and former veterinarians, Baker and Dr. Sheldon Bivin, respectively, of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine; Emmert; and Louisiana photographer C.C. Lockwood are producing a coffee table book about all of LSU's tiger mascots. The book will have short stories from Mike's fans, more than 100 photographs and an educational chapter on endangered tigers. Baker is collecting stories and unusual pictures of Mike V and his predecessors from the general public and LSU community. Contributors should send their materials to dbaker@vetmed.lsu.edu or mail to David Baker, Room 1504, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. LSU Press will publish the book in the fall of 2003. This will be the second time Mike's home has been refurbished. Mike IV spent the summer of 1981 at the Little Rock Zoo while his home had a $175,000 renovation, making the habitat three times larger. The renovation added a pool, climbing rocks and scratching post to the original habitat built in 1937 for Mike I. Mike V is one of only two Bengal Tigers that are university mascots. The 400-pound male cat, who receives more than 100,000 visitors a year, was donated to LSU by Dr. Thomas and Caroline Atchison of the Animal House Zoological Park in Moultin, Ala. He was introduced to LSU on Feb. 21, 1989, during a basketball game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and began his official reign in April of 1990. He will celebrate his 12th birthday on Oct. 18. For more information, contact Danny Aguirre or Bobbie Grand of TAF at 225/578-9500. -30- |
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