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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment indicated 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 put down “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are devastated,” said the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the director noted.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

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

The facility’s posts were filled with responses from members of the public, requesting a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would review the plan to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for consideration and respect as we manage this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A deputy director explained that euthanasia had to be performed ethically, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the representative noted. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and security responsibilities.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The park repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.