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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

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

In a online post, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable capital investment,” the manager explained.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and consideration,” the operator stated.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the property and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or ethical option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from members of the public, requesting a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would rethink the decision to end their lives.

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

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for kindness and decency as we handle this devastating situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A deputy director stated that euthanasia had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to verify this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security responsibilities.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

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

The facility often experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to cease operations until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.