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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to put down two of its elderly lions, with the fate 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 establishment clarified that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” commented the park’s director.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant capital investment,” the director explained.

In a recent statement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in buying the facility and maintaining care for the lions. While the deadline is tight and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the park would review the course of action to end their lives.

The operator stated that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request compassion and decency as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the determination to humanely kill the cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to confirm this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are assured that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure obligations.”

The sanctuary gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary often experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the facility to shut down until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.