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

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

In a online update, the facility clarified that its owner 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 “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but significant financial backing,” the director noted.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane option” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from members of the public, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the park would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The operator noted that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to hostile and offensive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for consideration and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the choice to put down the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

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

“An regulatory officer will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.