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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media post, the establishment clarified that its owner 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 challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the facility’s manager.

“Although it might possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable capital investment,” the operator explained.

In a recent statement, the park verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane choice” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while past workers expressed desire that the facility would review the plan to put them down.

The operator noted that alongside the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for consideration and respect as we navigate this devastating circumstance.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The government department clarified that the decision to euthanise the lions rested with the owners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The park repeatedly experienced economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.