A long-running circus is suing the city for refusing to permit its performances in the Big Apple, because the city says troupe’s three white tigers don’t have big enough cages and the three African elephants haven’t been tested for tuberculosis.
UniverSoul Circus has performed in NYC for 18 years but this year the city told operators for the first time that it needed a special permit to exhibit exotic animals in addition to the food service permits the circus has used in past years, the suit says.
When the circus applied for the animal permits they were turned down, according to the suit, which was filed by the circus in Manhattan Supreme Court.
“The animal housing for both species was found to be inadequate to protect the safety of the public and the primary enclosures of the tigers was determined insufficient to allow for adequate freedom of movement,” the NYC Department of Health wrote in a March 21 letter that denied the circus the permits.
The DOH letter also says the elephants – named Makia, Lovie and Lou – haven’t been tested for tuberculosis within the past year.
The circus fired back in its lawsuit, arguing that the city didn’t specify what exactly was wrong with the cages that hold three white tigers – named Isis, Weber and Shakiera.
“The enclosures for tigers and elephants currently maintained by SCI [Soul Circus International] and that SCI intends to use at other sites in the city, comply with all known rules and regulations governing animal enclosures,” the suit states, adding that the elephants’ health records comply with all known rules and regulations.
“We have been in active discussions with UniverSoul Circus representatives in the hope of finding a resolution,” a city Law Department spokesperson said.