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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment clarified that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are deeply saddened,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant capital investment,” the operator noted.

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

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the manager said.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in purchasing the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or humane choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the park would review the decision to end their lives.

The operator mentioned that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also received hostile and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request consideration and courtesy as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to humanely kill the lions rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be performed ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal care and security responsibilities.”

The park attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly ran into financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to shut down until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.