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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media post, the facility clarified 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 put down “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the director added.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the window is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or humane option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The manager mentioned that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and insulting messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the decision to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that euthanasia had to be carried out humanely, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and containment obligations.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary often ran into economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to cease operations until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.