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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial monetary input,” the director added.

In a subsequent update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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 indicated willingness in buying the facility and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed hope that the park would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The operator mentioned that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we handle this tragic predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to humanely kill the big cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and containment obligations.”

The facility attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park frequently experienced financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency directed the park to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.