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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment 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 challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant capital investment,” the operator noted.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” 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 few individuals have indicated willingness in buying the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or compassionate alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from members of the public, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the park would reconsider the course of action to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also received threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we ask for compassion and decency as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to put down the big cats rested with the owners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

The sanctuary attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the facility to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.