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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

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

In a online update, the establishment indicated 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 put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but significant financial backing,” the director noted.

In a later update, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were declining. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from members of the public, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the course of action to end their lives.

The operator mentioned that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and courtesy as we navigate this tragic predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to humanely kill the big cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be carried out compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson said. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and security obligations.”

The facility achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The park repeatedly experienced monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to shut down until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.