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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant monetary input,” the manager explained.

In a subsequent statement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director stated.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from members of the public, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The operator noted that among the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and abusive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the determination to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A deputy director commented that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and containment obligations.”

The park achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently experienced financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.