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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to put down two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment clarified that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the park’s director.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the director explained.

In a later update, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the director said.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to pursue this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or compassionate choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while past workers expressed hope that the park would review the decision to euthanise them.

The manager stated that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and respect as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to put down the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A senior official stated that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The park gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly ran into financial trouble and employment issues, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.