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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment explained 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 “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial financial backing,” the director noted.

In a recent statement, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager 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 purchasing the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or humane option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from members of the public, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The manager mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be performed ethically, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The park attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility frequently experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.