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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment indicated 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 employees and I are heartbroken,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but significant financial backing,” the manager explained.

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

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or compassionate alternative” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from members of the public, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The manager stated that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and offensive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and respect as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to put down the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson said. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal care and containment requirements.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early part of the century when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.