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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial financial backing,” the director explained.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the park would review the decision to euthanise them.

The operator mentioned that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and decency as we navigate this tragic situation.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to put down the cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer stated that euthanasia had to be conducted ethically, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to cease operations until the enclosures were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.