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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a online announcement, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable capital investment,” the manager explained.

In a recent statement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director said.

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 establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the situation remain unclear, we are doing all we can to pursue this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed hope that the facility would rethink the plan to end their lives.

The operator stated that amid the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also received hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request kindness and respect as we handle this devastating situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency directed the establishment to cease operations until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.