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

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

In a social media post, the facility explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” stated the park’s director.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial financial backing,” the operator noted.

In a later statement, the park verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in purchasing the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical choice” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from members of the public, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the facility would reconsider the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager stated that alongside the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and abusive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we request consideration and decency as we handle this devastating predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department clarified that the decision to humanely kill the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer commented that euthanasia had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its animal care and containment responsibilities.”

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

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to cease operations until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.