Building the new $3.5 million habitat for the University’sbeloved Bengal tiger, Mike V, will begin with a groundbreakingceremony in November, said Ben Broussard, development officer forthe Tiger Athletic Foundation.
The Tiger Athletic Foundation began the “I Like Mike” campaignin 2001 as a fundraiser to build a new home for Mike.
Broussard said the project started because the University is theonly campus in the country with a Royal Bengal tiger mascot, and ifthe habitat was not upgraded, the University may not be able tocontinue having the mascot on campus.
The construction will begin after football season and will befinished before next season, Broussard said.
Mike will be housed in the Baton Rouge Zoo while the new habitatis being constructed, said Dr. David Baker, Mike’s personalveterinarian and director of LSU’s Division of Laboratory AnimalScience.
The new facility will be approximately 15,000 square feet,compared to the present 1,100 square foot structure, said StevenLabarre, project coordinator for TAF.
Baker said the larger space will give the tiger stimulation.
“A wild tiger walks about 40 miles per day,” Baker said. “It’snatural for tigers to pace. A large space will allow Mike to spreadout his pacing.”
Broussard said the “I Like Mike” campaign began as a grassrootseffort, and campaign coordinators raised awareness about theproject by passing out stickers advertising the foundation.
Students can be involved in the campaign by donating $10 to theCollegiate Club membership, a fee which goes directly to thefoundation, Broussard said.
Famous Louisiana artist George Rodrigue painted a picture ofMike V, and anyone who donated $500 to the fund received a signedand numbered print of the picture, Broussard said.
People also can contribute $100 and buy a brick, which will helppave the walkway people take to visit the habitat, Broussardsaid.
An “I Like Mike” event celebrating Mike’s birthday will be heldFriday, Oct. 29 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Localsponsors will supply food, and people who donate $10 to the fundreceive a T-shirt.
Private donations and TAF chapters from around the state alsosignificantly contributed to the fund, Broussard said.
Baker said he communicated extensively with people in TAF and oncampus and the construction company, Torre Design Consortium, Ltd.,to make sure the enclosure’s plans fit within campusguidelines.
Mike’s present home was built in 1981, and some aspects of theenclosure need to be improved in the new habitat, Baker said. Thefloors of the present enclosure are cement, and though crushedrubber covers the cement now, the floors still are hard on Mike’sfeet.
“What was adequate in 1981 is not anymore,” Baker said. “The newenclosure will be very environmentally enriched.”
Baker said Mike’s new home will be good for the tiger’s mentalhealth as well as his physical comfort.
Baker said the space also will include more natural substancessuch as trees, including a live oak tree, ozone-treated water withfish and a deeper swimming pool.
Broussard said “I Like Mike” did not have trouble generatingfunds for Mike’s new home.
“Mike touches home with everybody,” Broussard said.