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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

In a online update, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the operator explained.

In a subsequent announcement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or compassionate choice” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from the community, requesting a second chance for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the park would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The director noted that amid the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to hostile and abusive remarks.

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

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to put down the big cats rested with the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

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

“An compliance official will be present to verify this is done appropriately,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The facility gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary frequently encountered financial trouble and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.