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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility clarified 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 “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” stated the park’s director.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable financial backing,” the operator explained.

In a later update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to pursue this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from the community, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The manager noted that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered hostile and insulting messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request compassion and decency as we manage this tragic situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The government department stated that the decision to put down the lions rested with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that euthanasia had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The park often experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the establishment to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.