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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to put down two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

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

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the director explained.

In a recent update, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or compassionate choice” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with comments from the community, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed hope that the park would rethink the decision to put them down.

The operator mentioned that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and respect as we manage this tragic situation.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department indicated that the decision to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director commented that humane killing had to be carried out compassionately, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its wildlife protection and security requirements.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility often ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.