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

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

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

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the operator noted.

In a later update, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or humane option” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from the community, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would rethink the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager noted that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and insulting remarks.

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

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department stated that the decision to humanely kill the lions rested with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer stated that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be onsite to confirm this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency directed the park to shut down until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.