🔗 Share this article

A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to put down two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a online announcement, the establishment explained that its proprietor 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.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable financial backing,” the operator explained.

In a later statement, the park announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or ethical option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from the community, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while past workers expressed hope that the facility would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The operator mentioned that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we request consideration and decency as we handle this tragic situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

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

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to verify this is done correctly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its wildlife protection and security requirements.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

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

The park frequently encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the facility to close until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.