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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media post, the facility indicated that its owner had listed the land 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 staff and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the director explained.

In a recent statement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from the community, pleading for a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed hope that the park would review the course of action to put them down.

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

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that passions are strong, but we request consideration and respect as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the decision to put down the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and containment requirements.”

The park attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the facility to close until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.