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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment explained 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 challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but significant monetary input,” the manager added.

In a later update, the park announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or humane alternative” due to their age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to euthanise them.

The manager stated that alongside the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and insulting remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to humanely kill the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be carried out compassionately, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the operation continues to satisfy its animal care and containment requirements.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary often ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the park to close until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.