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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to put down two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online update, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the manager explained.

In a subsequent statement, the park verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator said.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. Although the window is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or compassionate option” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from the community, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed hope that the sanctuary would rethink the course of action to end their lives.

The operator noted that among the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and abusive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request compassion and courtesy as we navigate this tragic circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the choice to put down the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be present to verify this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the establishment to close until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.