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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media post, the facility clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable financial backing,” the director added.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and consideration,” the director stated.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is tight and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

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

The park’s announcements were filled with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the park would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The manager mentioned that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request kindness and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the choice to put down the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal care and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility often ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.