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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a online update, the establishment clarified 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 put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant financial backing,” the director added.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager stated.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by comments from members of the public, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that alongside the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and abusive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to humanely kill the lions lay with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

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

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security requirements.”

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

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The park frequently experienced financial trouble and employment issues, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the establishment to close until the facilities were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.