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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to put down two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media update, the establishment indicated 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 put down “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are devastated,” commented the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial monetary input,” the manager added.

In a recent statement, the park announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

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

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to investigate this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or humane choice” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the park would rethink the course of action to euthanise them.

The operator noted that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and offensive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we request compassion and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to humanely kill the big cats rested with the owners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure obligations.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced economic issues and employment issues, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the establishment to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.