A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.
The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.
In a social media update, the facility indicated 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.”
“There were no real options left. The staff and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.
“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the manager noted.
In a subsequent update, the park verified that two of its lions had been put down.
“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.
However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.
“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this opportunity and hold onto hope.”
Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.
The park’s announcements were filled with responses from members of the public, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would review the plan to put them down.
The operator noted that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to threatening and insulting remarks.
“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we ask for compassion and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”
The property owner chose not to respond.
The government department stated that the determination to humanely kill the lions rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.
A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.
“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done properly,” the official said. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security requirements.”
The park attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.
However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while carrying out duties.
The park often ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.
Elena Vance is a digital strategist and creative director with over a decade of experience in transforming brands through innovative design.