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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment explained that its owner 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.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the operator explained.

In a recent announcement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the decision to put them down.

The operator noted that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also received threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and decency as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the determination to put down the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

The park gained some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to close until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.