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

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are heartbroken,” said the park’s director.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial monetary input,” the operator explained.

In a later statement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or humane choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from members of the public, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed hope that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The director noted that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and abusive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for consideration and respect as we navigate this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A senior official stated that euthanasia had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be present to verify this is done properly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The facility achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.