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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media post, the facility explained that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable capital investment,” the operator explained.

In a later announcement, 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 not treatable and were worsening. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in buying the property and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or ethical choice” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from the community, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager noted that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request consideration and courtesy as we handle this devastating situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to put down the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer explained that euthanasia had to be conducted ethically, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and containment obligations.”

The park attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the park to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.