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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media post, the facility explained that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the manager explained.

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

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the window is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to pursue this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to put them down.

The director noted that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered hostile and abusive messages.

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

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to euthanise the lions rested with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official stated that humane killing had to be performed ethically, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to ensure this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and security requirements.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park frequently experienced monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to close until the facilities were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.