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

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei shut down 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 group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant financial backing,” the manager explained.

In a later announcement, the park announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in buying the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or compassionate alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from the community, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the park would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The manager noted that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to euthanise the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure obligations.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park frequently experienced financial trouble and employment issues, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the park to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.