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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a online post, the facility explained 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 difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are deeply saddened,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the director noted.

In a subsequent announcement, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and consideration,” the director said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were filled with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would review the decision to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that alongside the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request consideration and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the determination to humanely kill the lions lay with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the representative stated. “We are assured that the operation continues to meet its wildlife protection and enclosure obligations.”

The park gained minor fame in the early part of the century when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the park to close until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.