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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media update, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are heartbroken,” said the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the operator explained.

In a later update, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were declining. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager said.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to pursue this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the park would rethink the plan to put them down.

The manager noted that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we request compassion and courtesy as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

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

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary frequently experienced economic issues and employment issues, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the facility to close until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.