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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment clarified 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 put down “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant monetary input,” the operator explained.

In a later statement, the sanctuary verified 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 worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the director remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate choice” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed hope that the park would rethink the course of action to end their lives.

The director noted that alongside the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request compassion and decency as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the choice to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official stated that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the park to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.