Louisiana governor Jeff Landry – who recently tried to stop summer school lunch programs – is pressuring Louisiana State University (LSU) to resume parading its live tiger mascot at home football games. This hasn’t happened since 2015, when Mike the Tiger VI was still alive. The current Siberian Bengal tiger, Mike VII, kept in an enclosure at LSU’s Baton Rouge, has never been subjected to this.
In a statement, LSU veterinary school spokeswoman Ginger Guttner clarified:
“LSU will not bring Mike VII to the Nicholls game and is not in discussions to bring Mike to any games this season.”
An LSU statement explained that the old practice contradicts current standards of “responsible care for live exotic animals.”
Indeed, LSU and other stadium games are so loud, and there is so much movement that they register on the Richter scale. This can only be stressful for tigers, which are primarily solitary animals.
But oil-and-gas-investment millionaire Landry doesn’t care about harming tigers. His cruelty is well-established. Earlier this year, he tried to prevent Louisiana from participating in the summer school lunch program for needy children.
In Louisiana, 267,950 – one in four – children face hunger. Having been a legislator and attorney general, Landry is well aware of this. He simply doesn’t care about the kids. His attempt to snatch food out of children’s hands was so shocking and unpopular that lawmakers from his own party forced him to back down.
Local animal advocate speaks
We talked to New Orleans animal rights activist, Katie P., about Landry’s proposal.
SLL: You have a history of advocating for animals forced to perform, particularly whales. Can you say a bit about past campaigns you’ve worked on and protest actions you’ve attended?
KP: I’ve been actively involved in advocating against the captivity and exploitation of animals, particularly those forced to perform for entertainment. One of the first protests I participated in was back in 2015, targeting the Ringling Brothers circus for their use of animals, especially elephants and tigers, during their performances. This protest took place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
As many know, Ringling Brothers retired all their elephant performers in 2016, before taking a hiatus. When they returned for their 2023 North American tour, they featured no live animals at all. This major shift was the result of years of activism, state-level bans on live animal performances, and declining ticket sales driven by public outcry over the abuse of these animals.
I also have a deep concern for marine mammals, especially whales kept in captivity. The origin stories of places like SeaWorld, where wild cetaceans were captured and forced into confinement, are heartbreaking and cruel. These captures didn’t just affect individual animals but also had lasting impacts on the native pods they were taken from.
One case that really brought me back into activism recently was Tokitae, an orca who was captured as a baby from her family pod in the 1970s and lived in the smallest whale tank for the rest of her life. Tokitae endured decades of psychological and physical suffering, neglect, and poor nutrition, performing daily for food until she passed away in August 2023.
The Miami Seaquarium, where she was held, has gained a reputation for its poor treatment of animals. After her death, investigations revealed that she likely died as a result of captivity-related issues like malnutrition, pneumonia, and inadequate veterinary care.
In response to Tokitae’s situation and other marine mammal abuses, a group called UrgentSeas was formed in 2022. One of its founders, a former animal trainer at Marineland in Ontario, Phil DeMers, became an activist after witnessing the behind-the-scenes abuse at these marine parks. I was inspired by their work and traveled to Miami in September 2023 to protest alongside them at the Miami Seaquarium following Tokitae’s death.
Since then, there has been significant progress. The USDA has conducted surprise inspections and found numerous violations, including the tragic death of a dolphin who swallowed a four-inch bolt. As a result, Miami-Dade County began the eviction process against the Seaquarium due to its repeated violations, particularly concerning its animal care standards.
I’m incredibly proud of the impact we’ve achieved in these two cases. It’s taken a lot of dedication and effort from both organizers and supporters, but it’s proof that direct action can make a difference. Moving forward, it’s crucial to continue educating the public and raising awareness because things are not always what they seem.
SLL: Do you think that this kind of animal exploitation is driven by the profit motive?
KP: Yes, animal performances and captivity are entirely profit-driven. There’s no doubt about that. When it comes to animal entertainment, the primary motivation is financial gain, not conservation. Many parks and attractions claim they are contributing to conservation efforts, but that’s often a misleading narrative. If animals are being made to perform or are generating revenue for the company, it’s not about protecting or conserving them — it’s about maximizing profit.
SLL: Do you have any information about the conditions of the workers at these places?
KP: While I don’t have extensive firsthand knowledge about the working conditions across all these establishments, it’s clear that there’s a range depending on the venue — from smaller, roadside attractions like the Miami Seaquarium to larger, more technologically advanced facilities like SeaWorld.
The conditions for employees can also vary based on their roles. For example, vendors and cleaning staff are reportedly paid low wages at the Miami Seaquarium. I wouldn’t be surprised if many don’t have access to adequate benefits like health insurance.
The company’s cost-cutting practices also extend to the animals, as it was revealed they were skimping on food, failing to pay rent, and neglecting necessary investments in the animals’ environments and overall care.
If the animals’ welfare was being compromised to save money, it’s highly likely that the workers were also facing financial hardships. Moreover, when companies prioritize cutting costs, it creates unsafe working conditions, leaving the employees to bear the consequences as well.
SLL: A horrific example of this is the 2010 death of animal trainer Dawn Therese Brancheau. She was killed at SeaWorld Orlando while working with an orca during a show. Orcas are highly intelligent, social animals that live in close-knit groups called pods, meaning that orcas in captivity are in unnatural, stressful situations.
The orca, Tilikum, had been captured in Iceland in 1983 and forced to perform ever since. He had already been involved in the deaths of trainers Keltie Lee Byrne in 1991 and Daniel Patrick Dukes in 1999.
After Brancheau’s death, SeaWorld resumed performances with Tilikum in 2011, though with less human contact. He died in 2017, likely from a bacterial infection.
SLL: What do you make of Landry’s ambitions to bring Mike the Tiger out at football games?
KP: I believe it would be a terrible idea to take Mike the Tiger to LSU games.
First and foremost, it’s clear that Governor Landry doesn’t have a strong track record when it comes to being conscious or compassionate about environmental or animal welfare issues. His stance on matters like climate change denial and disregard for scientific evidence in decision-making reflect that. Recently, he’s gained attention for pushing questionable laws and making decisions that seem more about creating controversy than serving the best interests of the state.
What’s unclear is the reasoning behind his push to bring Mike to live games. I’ve tried to find a clear justification, but there doesn’t seem to be one. If the motivation is simply that he “wants to,” then we need to ask ourselves, is that really a valid reason?
When we consider decisions like this, we have to prioritize the well-being of the animal. It’s important to step back and ask: Are the personal desires of one group more important than the needs and health of Mike? To me, the answer is obvious — Mike should not be taken to live games.
Beyond the ethical concerns, all of Mike’s veterinarians have stated that it’s not in his best interest to be transported to these events. Ignoring expert medical advice, simply to satisfy one person’s ego or agenda, is not just irresponsible — it’s harmful.
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