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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online update, the facility explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant financial backing,” the operator noted.

In a subsequent announcement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and keep hope alive.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the plan to put them down.

The operator noted that among the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also received menacing and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request compassion and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the decision to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be performed ethically, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the representative noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and security requirements.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The park frequently experienced monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the establishment to close until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.