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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online post, the facility indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are devastated,” stated the facility’s manager.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant financial backing,” the manager added.

In a recent update, the park announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and maintain optimism.”

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

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by messages from the community, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the plan to put them down.

The director noted that among the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to hostile and insulting messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request consideration and decency as we manage this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the decision to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer explained that euthanasia had to be carried out compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done properly,” the spokesperson said. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security responsibilities.”

The facility achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency directed the park to close until the facilities were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.