Public feedings of Mike are impractical
As veterinarian for LSU’s Mike the tiger, I would like to respond to the suggestion in the Reveille that Mike’s trainers should sponsor a safe, public viewing of our beloved bengal feasting on a special dinner. Many ideas seem reasonable until more information is available.
Knowing how important Mike is to the LSU student body, I am sure that once students have more information they will understand why public feedings of Mike cannot occur.
First, as a tiger, Mike is very “private” in some of his behaviors, including feeding. Mike often will not eat until his caretakers have left for the evening or eats very little until his caretakers leave. It is very unlikely that he would cooperate in any “public feeding.”
Second, Mike has a regular routine, which includes receiving food only after entering his night house each evening. It is not in Mike’s best interests to alter his routine and certainly not to feed him outside in his yard, and thereby discourage him from coming into his night house.
Third, when Mike’s routine is altered for whatever reason, he recognizes the change and becomes very focused on what is going on around him. At those times he has no interest whatsoever in food, regardless of how hungry he may be at the time. That is why on football game days he cannot be coaxed into his travel trailer with food treats. He’s simply not interested. So, for Mike’s well-being, we will not be conducting public feedings. Again, I am confident that the LSU student body wants what is best for Mike and agrees that his needs are more important than establishing another tradition.
Dr. David BakerProfessor and DirectorLaboratory Animal Medicine