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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to put down two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment explained that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” commented the park’s director.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial capital investment,” the operator explained.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were declining. These decisions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in acquiring the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or humane option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from members of the public, requesting a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the park would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and abusive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and decency as we navigate this tragic predicament.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The government department stated that the determination to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to confirm this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The park attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary frequently experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to close until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.