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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

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

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are devastated,” commented the park’s director.

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under different management, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the manager added.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator said.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from members of the public, requesting a second chance for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that alongside the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and offensive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request consideration and decency as we handle this tragic predicament.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The government department clarified that the decision to euthanise the lions lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official stated that euthanasia had to be performed ethically, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be present to verify this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure obligations.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park frequently experienced monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.