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

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

In a online announcement, the establishment clarified 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 “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the manager added.

In a subsequent announcement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or compassionate option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the course of action to euthanise them.

The director stated that among the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for consideration and respect as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the choice to euthanise the cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that euthanasia had to be carried out compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be present to ensure this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the establishment continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

The park gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into financial trouble and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the facility to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.