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

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors 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, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable financial backing,” the director explained.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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 shown interest in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or compassionate alternative” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would review the decision to put them down.

The manager stated that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and insulting messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and respect as we navigate this devastating situation.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department stated that the decision to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that euthanasia had to be performed ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and security obligations.”

The facility attained minor fame 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 keeper was killed by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The facility often experienced economic issues and employment issues, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.