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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment explained 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 euthanised “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable monetary input,” the operator noted.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator stated.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or ethical option” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from the community, begging for a reprieve for the other big cats, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The operator mentioned that amid the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and decency as we manage this tragic situation.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to euthanise the big cats lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that euthanasia had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to verify this is done correctly,” the representative said. “We are confident that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure obligations.”

The facility attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility often ran into financial trouble and employment issues, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to close until the habitats were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.