After reaction from University administration, Dilan Landry, president of Tiger Habitats of America, has become concerned with his credibility among the campus community.
Landry and his organization own a tiger cub named Faith. He and Faith have made appearances on and near campus during the past two months.
At Landry and Faith’s appearances, children and University students have taken photographs with Faith. Landry has accepted donations to help Tiger Habitats of America build a refuge for retired tigers near Mandeville, La.
The purpose of Tiger Habitats of America is to educate the public on the dangers of having tigers as pets, Landry said.
In a Reveille story last week, Landry said when he initially began taking donations he wanted to help raise money for a new habitat for Mike.
But in the same story, DeLaine Emmert, chairwoman for “I Like Mike,” said Landry has no affiliation with the University and that he has given no money to the “I Like Mike” campaign.
Chancellor Mark Emmert responded to the front-page story with an Oct. 29 letter to the editor reiterating his wife’s statement.
“He is not a representative of LSU and has no agreement or authority to raise funds on behalf of the ‘I Like Mike’ campaign or the University,” the chancellor said in his letter.
Landry said he felt like the University was treating him unfairly.
“I’m not going to say I’m representing LSU because I’m not,” Landry said. “I feel like LSU’s trying to hurt me.”
People who have large cats in open sight, transport the animals to show the public, or allow the public to be photographed with the animal must register with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Landry did not give specific information regarding his exhibitor license with the USDA in the previous Reveille story.
“I don’t give that to the public because people like PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] can get my address,” Landry said.
But Landry said he did not intend to give the impression that he was not licensed.
“We are licensed by the USDA,” he said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which manages animal welfare services for the USDA, has no record of the name Dilan Landry or the organization Tiger Habitats of America.
Landry said APHIS does not have that information because Faith is registered with ZOO Zoom The Little Zoo On Wheels out of Breaux Bridge, La.
Ed Curlett, an APHIS public affairs specialist, said the USDA has ZOO Zoom in its records.
“ZOO Zoom is licensed,” he said.
Landry said he, like any other person or organization that owns a large cat, is monitored by the USDA.
“I get checked all the time,” he said. “If I didn’t have my stuff together I’d be done.”
Some members of the University community are skeptical about Landry and Tiger Habitats of America.
Jennifer Welshons, a third-year law student, did not give Landry any credibility.
“This man is an obvious fraud,” she said. “His blatant avoidance of the questions regarding his USDA license should have proved his fraudulent nature.”