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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

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

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

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial financial backing,” the director added.

In a later announcement, the facility 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 actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical choice” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were filled with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would review the plan to end their lives.

The director noted that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request compassion and courtesy as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The government department indicated that the choice to humanely kill the big cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official explained that putting down had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

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

The sanctuary frequently encountered monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.