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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to euthanise two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

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

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the director noted.

In a later 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 not treatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director said.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

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

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and courtesy as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to humanely kill the big cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be present to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and security obligations.”

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

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to close until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.