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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media update, 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 put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the manager explained.

In a later announcement, the sanctuary verified 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 decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Although the deadline is tight and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

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

The facility’s posts were filled with messages from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would rethink the decision to put them down.

The manager stated that among the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and decency as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to put down the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary often encountered monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the government agency instructed the establishment to cease operations until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.