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

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment clarified 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 euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant financial backing,” the manager noted.

In a recent update, the park verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from the community, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the park would rethink the course of action to euthanise them.

The operator mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request consideration and courtesy as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The government department indicated that the choice to put down the cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure obligations.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary frequently ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.