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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 fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

In a online update, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but significant financial backing,” the operator explained.

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

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These decisions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the operator stated.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in buying the facility and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to pursue this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The manager mentioned that among the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and abusive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request kindness and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the decision to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and security obligations.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary often ran into economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency directed the facility to close until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.