AP Wire

LSU mascot Mike VI has died

by The Associated Press

A statement from the school Tuesday says Mike VI was euthanized.

lsu.edu

Louisiana State University says its live tiger mascot has died following months of treatment for a rare form of cancer.

A statement from the school Tuesday says Mike VI was euthanized by Dr. David Baker of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.

Mike VI was diagnosed in May with a rare and inoperable form of cancer. At the time, veterinarians said treating its spindle cell sarcoma with radiation therapy could extend the tiger's life by one or two more years.

However, Baker announced last week that a CT scan and physical exam showed a tumor in the tiger's skull had grown and his cancer had spread to other parts of its body.

The news org last week floated the idea of talking Michael Sandlin, the owner of the Tiger Truckstop in Grosse Tete, into donating his tiger, Tony, to LSU to replace Mike VI. Read it here.