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

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

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

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are heartbroken,” stated the park’s director.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but significant financial backing,” the operator added.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Although the window is limited and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to pursue this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or compassionate alternative” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the park would reconsider the plan to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also received hostile and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We understand that passions are strong, but we request compassion and decency as we navigate this tragic situation.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department indicated that the decision to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer stated that euthanasia had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson said. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its wildlife protection and security requirements.”

The facility attained some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

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

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.