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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media update, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant monetary input,” the director added.

In a recent update, the park verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were filled with messages from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the park would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The operator stated that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request compassion and decency as we manage this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department indicated that the decision to humanely kill the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer explained that humane killing had to be performed ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the representative stated. “We are assured that the establishment continues to meet its animal welfare and security requirements.”

The sanctuary gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently ran into economic issues and employment issues, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the park to shut down until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.