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

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past 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, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable financial backing,” the manager noted.

In a recent announcement, the facility verified 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 incurable and were declining. These actions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in purchasing the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from the community, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would review the decision to put them down.

The operator noted that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and abusive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request compassion and decency as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the choice to humanely kill the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the representative said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park frequently ran into economic issues and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the government agency ordered the park to shut down until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.