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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the manager explained.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and maintain optimism.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from the community, pleading for a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the plan to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request consideration and courtesy as we handle this tragic predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A senior official explained that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment 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 quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The facility repeatedly ran into economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.