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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” commented the park’s director.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable financial backing,” the operator explained.

In a recent update, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to pursue this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or humane option” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

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

The manager noted that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and respect as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the decision to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be carried out compassionately, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly experienced monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the government agency instructed the facility to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.