Troubled New Zealand Animal Sanctuary Puts Down Pair of Lions, Fate of Remaining Five Unclear

A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had listed the land 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.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable capital investment,” the director explained.

In a later 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 declining. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in purchasing the property and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from members of the public, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the park would reconsider the course of action to euthanise them.

The operator noted that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and offensive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this devastating situation.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A senior official stated that putting down had to be conducted ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done appropriately,” the official said. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The park attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The park repeatedly encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to shut down until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.