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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a online post, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are heartbroken,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial financial backing,” the manager explained.

In a subsequent statement, the park verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. While the window is short and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical choice” due to their age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from the community, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the park would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The director mentioned that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request compassion and courtesy as we navigate this tragic situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official explained that humane killing had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be present to ensure this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security requirements.”

The sanctuary achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly ran into economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.