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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors 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 seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“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 considerable monetary input,” the operator explained.

In a subsequent statement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or compassionate alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would review the plan to put them down.

The director noted that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and insulting messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and respect as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to put down the lions lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be carried out compassionately, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are confident that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security requirements.”

The facility gained minor fame in the early part of the century when it featured on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park repeatedly ran into economic issues and employment issues, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.