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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

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

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant monetary input,” the manager explained.

In a recent update, the park announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or ethical option” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with comments from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the plan to end their lives.

The director stated that alongside the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we request compassion and courtesy as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official stated that euthanasia had to be performed ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and security obligations.”

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

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary frequently ran into economic issues and employment issues, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency instructed the facility to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.