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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to put down two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a online post, the establishment indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but significant financial backing,” the operator explained.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director said.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to pursue this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and decency as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the decision to euthanise the big cats lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be present to verify this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to satisfy its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The park achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary frequently experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the park to close until the enclosures were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.