A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.
The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.
In a social media update, 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 euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”
“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.
“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant capital investment,” the manager noted.
In a later update, the park verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.
“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.
However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be euthanised.
“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to pursue this option and hold onto hope.”
Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane option” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.
The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by responses from concerned citizens, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the park would review the plan to put them down.
The director stated that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and abusive comments.
“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we ask for compassion and respect as we navigate this devastating situation.”
The property owner declined to comment.
The ministry for primary industries clarified that the decision to humanely kill the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.
A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be performed humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.
“An regulatory officer will be present to ensure this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”
The park attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.
However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.
The facility repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.
