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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to euthanise two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

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

In a online post, the facility 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 euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” said the park’s director.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial capital investment,” the director explained.

In a recent update, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is tight and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from the community, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager stated that alongside the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and courtesy as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and containment responsibilities.”

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

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to cease operations until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.