BATON ROUGE - PETA asked LSU not to replace Mike VI with another live mascot.

PETA issued a statement Tuesday afternoon. LSU announced Mike VI died Tuesday morning. Earlier this year it was revealed Mike had cancer and as early as last week, veterinarians announced the cancer had spread and estimated Mike had only a month or two to live.

"This sad day could mark a kind new beginning for LSU, where sensitive, intelligent tigers have been reduced to game-day props for decades," PETA said in a statement. "PETA is calling on the university to honor Mike VI's legacy by making him the last live mascot to be locked up in captivity and paraded around an unruly stadium. The last thing LSU should do is condemn yet another tiger to a lifetime of exploitation."

Mike lives in a habitat that's been ranked as one of the largest and finest. The 20,000 square foot enclosure was built in 2005 at a cost of $3 million.

LSU has said it is searching for a live mascot, Mike VII.

PETA issued a similar statement after the announcement about Mike VI's cancer.

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