🔗 Share this article

A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media post, the facility clarified 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 difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial monetary input,” the manager noted.

In a subsequent announcement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A several interested parties have shown interest in buying the facility and providing for the lions. While the window is limited and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to pursue this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or humane choice” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the facility would review the decision to put them down.

The operator mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also received threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request consideration and respect as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the choice to humanely kill the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be conducted ethically, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done appropriately,” the representative said. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The facility gained minor fame in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility often encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to close until the enclosures were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.