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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media update, the facility indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but significant monetary input,” the operator added.

In a subsequent statement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical option” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the plan to end their lives.

The director mentioned that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we appeal for consideration and courtesy as we manage this devastating situation.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to euthanise the lions rested with the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary often encountered economic issues and employment issues, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.