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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online post, the facility indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial capital investment,” the manager explained.

In a recent statement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were declining. These choices were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or compassionate choice” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from concerned citizens, requesting a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to hostile and abusive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request consideration and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its animal care and security responsibilities.”

The park attained some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility frequently ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to shut down until the facilities were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.