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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to put down two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a online update, the establishment explained that its proprietor 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 “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the director added.

In a recent announcement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were declining. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the deadline is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to pursue this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to end their lives.

The director mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and respect as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to euthanise the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the representative said. “We are confident that the facility continues to meet its animal care and containment obligations.”

The park gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The park repeatedly encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.