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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media post, 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 “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but significant financial backing,” the director explained.

In a later statement, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the manager said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A several interested parties have shown interest in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

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

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from members of the public, requesting a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to euthanise them.

The operator noted that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received hostile and offensive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request kindness and courtesy as we navigate this devastating circumstance.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the determination to put down the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be performed ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be on location to verify this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security responsibilities.”

The facility gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park often ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.