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

The private wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media update, the facility explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are devastated,” stated the park’s director.

“Although it might possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the manager noted.

In a recent announcement, the sanctuary verified 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 untreatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the director remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A several interested parties have shown interest in buying the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to investigate this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate option” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The director stated that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and respect as we handle this tragic situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the decision to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to ensure this is done properly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.