🔗 Share this article

A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable monetary input,” the director added.

In a later update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the timeframe is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from members of the public, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we request compassion and decency as we handle this tragic predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The park frequently encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.