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

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

In a online post, the facility clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the director explained.

In a later announcement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the operator said.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to pursue this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or ethical choice” due to their age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that among the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we ask for consideration and respect as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be performed ethically, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are confident that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and containment obligations.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency ordered the establishment to shut down until the habitats were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.