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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a online post, the establishment indicated that its proprietor 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 challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are deeply saddened,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the director explained.

In a recent update, the park announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the operator said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by responses from the community, requesting a second chance for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the decision to end their lives.

The operator noted that alongside the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request compassion and decency as we navigate this devastating circumstance.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the official said. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The park repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the government agency ordered the park to close until the habitats were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.