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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

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

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable financial backing,” the director added.

In a recent 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 not treatable and were declining. These choices were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or compassionate alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the park would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The manager stated that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we handle this devastating predicament.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The regulatory body indicated that the decision to put down the big cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A deputy director explained that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security requirements.”

The park attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to close until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.