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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility clarified that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the park’s director.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant financial backing,” the manager noted.

In a later statement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the operator said.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to pursue this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The manager stated that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to euthanise the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be carried out humanely, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are assured that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal care and enclosure obligations.”

The park attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park often ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the park to close until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.