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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

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

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant monetary input,” the operator added.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the director stated.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or compassionate choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by messages from members of the public, begging for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the park would review the course of action to put them down.

The operator mentioned that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request compassion and respect as we manage this tragic situation.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

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

A deputy director explained that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the official said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The facility repeatedly experienced monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the establishment to shut down until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.