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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a online update, the establishment indicated that its proprietor 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 tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are deeply saddened,” stated the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable capital investment,” the manager explained.

In a subsequent announcement, the park announced 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 incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is tight and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to end their lives.

The operator noted that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and abusive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we manage this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the determination to humanely kill the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director explained that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be present to verify this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary frequently encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to shut down until the enclosures were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.