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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a online update, 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 euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the manager explained.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in purchasing the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or humane option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The operator noted that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered hostile and offensive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this devastating predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to humanely kill the cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park frequently experienced financial trouble and employment issues, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency directed the park to shut down until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.