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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are devastated,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial financial backing,” the operator noted.

In a recent announcement, the park verified 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 deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or ethical choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from members of the public, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed hope that the park would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The manager noted that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered hostile and offensive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and courtesy as we navigate this devastating situation.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the choice to euthanise the lions lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director explained that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done properly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The facility gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility often ran into economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to cease operations until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.