Mike VI (2007-16)
Mike VI
Mike VI was born July 23, 2005, and came to LSU when he was two years old. At the time of his arrival at LSU, he weighed 320 pounds.
Mike VI was donated to LSU by Great Cats of Indiana, a nonprofit sanctuary and rescue facility for big cats and other large carnivores, located in Idaville, Ind.
He was moved into his new home on August 25, 2007, and was introduced to the LSU community on September 1, 2007. He was officially declared Mike VI at a ceremony held on September 14, 2007. He debuted in Tiger Stadium on the evening of the Florida vs. LSU football game on Saturday, October 6, 2007. LSU won 28-24.
On May 23, 2016, Mike VI, was diagnosed with a spindle cell sarcoma, a type of cancer. He underwent stereotactic radiotherapy on June 1 at Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center in Baton Rouge, La. In October 2016, a CT scan revealed that Mike VI’s tumor has grown and cancer had spread despite treatment. He entered hospice care in his night house on Oct. 10, 2016, so that his caretakers could observe him to ensure that he did not suffer.
On Oct. 11, 2016, Mike was humanely euthanized in his night house by LSU’s Attending Veterinarian David Baker, DVM, Ph.D. Mike as cremated, and his ashes are located in the Andonie Museum next to the LSU Alumni Association on LSU’s campus.