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

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

In a social media update, 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 “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are heartbroken,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the operator noted.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be put down.

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in buying the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane option” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The director noted that among the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and abusive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request consideration and respect as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to put down the big cats lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to verify this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and security obligations.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the establishment to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.