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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable financial backing,” the director noted.

In a subsequent statement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were declining. These decisions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is limited and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the sanctuary would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The director mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the determination to put down the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to satisfy its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.