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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the facility explained that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial capital investment,” the director added.

In a recent update, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

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

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from the community, requesting a stay of execution for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would review the plan to end their lives.

The operator noted that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for consideration and courtesy as we handle this tragic predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the decision to put down the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director commented that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal welfare and containment responsibilities.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary frequently ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.