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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the facility indicated 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 put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are heartbroken,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could 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 director added.

In a recent statement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical option” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the facility would rethink the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager stated that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to threatening and abusive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and respect as we navigate this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The government department indicated that the decision to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

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

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and security responsibilities.”

The facility attained some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The facility often ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the park to cease operations until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.