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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a online announcement, the facility clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable monetary input,” the operator added.

In a recent statement, the sanctuary announced 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 decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the window is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to investigate this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

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

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by responses from members of the public, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would reconsider the decision to put them down.

The operator noted that alongside the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer explained that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done properly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its animal care and containment obligations.”

The sanctuary achieved some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency directed the park to shut down until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.