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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

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

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the manager added.

In a subsequent update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in purchasing the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or ethical option” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from members of the public, requesting a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The director noted that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to menacing and abusive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request consideration and respect as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the decision to put down the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson said. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and security requirements.”

The park attained minor fame in the early part of the century when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

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

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered financial trouble and employment issues, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency directed the establishment to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.