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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to put down two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media post, the facility explained that its proprietor 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 “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable capital investment,” the operator noted.

In a subsequent announcement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were declining. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in buying the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from members of the public, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would review the plan to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also received hostile and offensive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The government department stated that the choice to put down the big cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be conducted compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and security obligations.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The facility often experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency ordered the park to close until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.