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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

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

In a online post, the facility explained 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 put down “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the director explained.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were declining. These decisions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be put down.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the situation 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 “viable or ethical option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The operator stated that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also received menacing and abusive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and respect as we navigate this devastating situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The government department clarified that the decision to humanely kill the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A deputy director explained that putting down 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 correctly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its animal care and security obligations.”

The sanctuary gained minor fame in the early part of the century when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility often encountered monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.