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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media announcement, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are heartbroken,” commented the park’s director.

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable financial backing,” the operator noted.

In a recent update, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director said.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. While the window is tight and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to pursue this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the course of action to end their lives.

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

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request compassion and respect as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer explained that euthanasia had to be conducted ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be present to ensure this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary often experienced monetary difficulties and employment issues, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.