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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media update, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant capital investment,” the manager explained.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the director said.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and providing for the lions. Although the deadline is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or ethical option” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would review the plan to euthanise them.

The manager stated that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we ask for consideration and decency as we handle this tragic situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to verify this is done correctly,” the representative noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered financial trouble and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the establishment to close until the facilities were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.