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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are devastated,” stated the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable financial backing,” the manager explained.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the operator stated.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. While the window is short and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or compassionate option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from members of the public, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed hope that the facility would review the course of action to put them down.

The manager noted that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and decency as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be carried out compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be onsite to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure obligations.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it was shown on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The facility frequently encountered monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to shut down until the facilities were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.