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

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

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

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial monetary input,” the operator added.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director said.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is limited and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to pursue this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or compassionate choice” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were filled with responses from the community, requesting a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the park would rethink the course of action to end their lives.

The director mentioned that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and courtesy as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to put down the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official explained that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal care and containment obligations.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park frequently encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency directed the establishment to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.