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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the facility explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are heartbroken,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant monetary input,” the operator added.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director stated.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the deadline is tight 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 “practical or humane alternative” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by responses from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The director noted that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and abusive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the choice to euthanise the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A senior official stated that euthanasia had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The park gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently experienced 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 resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.