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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online post, the establishment indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable financial backing,” the director noted.

In a subsequent announcement, 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 not treatable and were declining. These choices were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the director stated.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or compassionate option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would review the course of action to end their lives.

The director mentioned that amid the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered menacing and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request consideration and decency as we handle this devastating situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

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

“An regulatory officer will be present to verify this is done appropriately,” the representative noted. “We are confident that the facility continues to meet its animal care and containment responsibilities.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.