PETA Calls On University Of Colorado To End Live Mascot Tradition

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - A prominent animal rights group is calling on CU Boulder to end their live mascot tradition now that Ralphiv V has retired. PETA says that "Time's Up" on using live animals as props for sports.

In a release, the group says that times change. They're calling on the University of Colorado to end their tradition of running a buffalo across the football field before and at halftime of college football games. The tradition is continually ranked as one of the best in college sports.

PETA says that live animal mascots have been injured when brought out onto the field for games and that crowd-pleasing costumed humans are the best alternative. Cornell University, the University of California-Los Angeles, and Brown University are among the schools that have switched away from live animal mascots.

John Graves, the Ralphie Live Mascot Program Manager, responded in a statement. "No one cares more about Ralphie's well-being than the Handlers and me," Graves said. "From the time Ralphie V was 6 months old, I've been by her side nearly every day for the past 13 years. I am confident she is happy and healthy. That will continue in the years ahead at her ranch alongside the next Ralphie. Ralphie running at football games has been a proud CU tradition for more than five decades and we have a track record of doing it safely with appropriate precautions for Ralphie, the Handlers and everyone on the field. That's the very reason we reacted to her needs and retired her now, after 12 stellar years as our mascot. Ralphie enjoys the spotlight as the queen of our campus and she gets better care than most buffalo. We are now in the process of finding Ralphie VI, and that will require months of training for her and the Handlers to ensure we continue this tradition in a safe and healthy way."

RELATED: 'Truly Adored By Many': Ralphie V Retires From CU

"Bringing a live animal into a stadium full of screaming fans is dangerous for everyone involved and no picnic for the animal," PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a release. "PETA is calling on CU-Boulder to recognize that other living, feeling beings aren't sports props and retired its live-mascot program."