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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a social media update, the facility indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the operator explained.

In a later statement, 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 decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is tight and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane option” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from the community, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The director noted that amid the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The government department stated that the choice to humanely kill the cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer explained that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be present to ensure this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered financial trouble and employment issues, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.