LSU's live tiger mascot diagnosed with rare cancer

BATON ROUGE, La., May 23 (UPI) -- Mike the Tiger, the sixth tiger to serve as LSU's mascot, is expected to live one or two more years with treatment after being diagnosed with cancer.

The 10-year-old Bengal-Siberian mix has a spindle cell sarcoma, according to LSU. He does not appear to be in pain, according to reports.

"Mike's veterinarian, David Baker, DVM, Ph.D., and his veterinary student caretakers previously noticed swelling on the right side of Mike's face. On Thursday, May 12, Mike was sedated in his night house and then brought to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine for a physical examination and diagnostic tests," LSU reported.

"Once at the LSU SVM, Mike was put under general anesthesia and given a CT (computed tomography) scan to determine the cause of the swelling. All diagnostic findings were reviewed by multiple specialists, both at LSU and at other institutions, and it was determined that Mike has a tumor in his face near his nose. Biopsy analysis led to a diagnosis of spindle cell sarcoma, which is a malignant tumor derived from fibrous connective tissues of the bone. This is an extremely rare form of cancer, but this type of cancer is unlikely to spread to other areas of the body," LSU reported.

Mike VI's treatment plan includes a new form of radiation therapy called stereotactic radiotherapy, which delivers highly focused radiation to the tumor while sparing surrounding tissues. The school reports that Mike would live for one or two months without the treatment.

Mike VI is one of two live tiger college mascots in the United States, but he is the only living on a college campus. He currently weighs in at 420 pounds. He was donated by Great Cats of Indiana and moved into his home north of Tiger Stadium in 2005.

His current habitat includes natural substances like grass, and LSU's renaissance architecture. His yard is 14,010 sq. ft. and he has a personal veterinarian. His habitat also features lush planting, a large Live Oak tree, a waterfall and a stream evolving from a rocky backdrop overflowing with plants and trees. A pond allows Mike to swim, while onlookers can look at his lengthy limbs through transparent walls.

"Mike's ride through Tiger Stadium before home games in a travel trailer topped by the LSU cheerleaders is a school tradition. Before entering the stadium, his cage on wheels is parked next to the opponent's locker room in the southeast end of the stadium. Opposing players must make their way past Mike's cage to reach their locker room," the LSU website says.

Bevo XIV, the University of Texas' 2,100-pound longhorn steer mascot, died in October after being diagnosed with the bovine leukemia virus, an affliction found in cattle and genetically linked to human breast cancer.