LSU mascot Mike VI loses battle with cancer

It’s a sad day in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana State University said Tuesday its live tiger mascot, Mike VI, has died. He was 11 years old.

Mike VI, a Bengali-Siberian hybrid, was born in 2005 and adopted by LSU in 2007.

Mike was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma in May and received stereotactic radiotheraphy in June, LSU said.

He was put into hospice care Monday.

Mike was “humanely euthanized” in his night house by LSU attending veterinarian David Barker, the school said.

LSU said it is now searching for a young male tiger to replace Mike.

LSU fans took to Twitter to share their condolences and memories of Mike VI.

This story was originally published October 11, 2016 at 1:15 PM with the headline "LSU mascot Mike VI loses battle with cancer."