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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its older lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media post, the facility indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial capital investment,” the manager explained.

In a later update, the facility 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 deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the manager said.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. While the deadline is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The operator noted that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we request compassion and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the determination to euthanise the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A deputy director explained that putting down had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be present to verify this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The facility attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly ran into financial trouble and employment issues, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the park to close until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.