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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to put down two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media 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 put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are heartbroken,” stated the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial monetary input,” the manager explained.

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

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were worsening. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the facility and maintaining care for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or compassionate choice” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the course of action to put them down.

The manager mentioned that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for compassion and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the determination to put down the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to verify this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are confident that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The park attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the park to cease operations until the facilities were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.