Two lions are already gone. Five more could be next.

In November 2025, two elderly lions were euthanised at the Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary in Whangārei, New Zealand. The sanctuary — a private facility known for keeping big cats for entertainment — abruptly closed. Staff said there was no option to continue caring for the animals.

Now, five more lions remain behind closed gates, their fate unknown. The facility claims they could be spared if a buyer steps in, but that is far from guaranteed. These animals have spent their entire lives in captivity — not because they chose it, but because people decided they were worth more alive in cages than wild and free.

We’re calling on the New Zealand Department of Conservation and the Ministry for Animal Welfare to:

• Intervene immediately to ensure the safety and survival of the five remaining lions
• Prohibit the euthanasia of these animals without exhausting every relocation option
• Work with international animal welfare groups to secure sanctuary placement
• Ensure transparency around the care and decision-making for these lions.

Captive lions have no way to return to the wild. They cannot survive without food, shelter, and medical care — but they can still live out their days in peace if we act now.

These five lions did not ask to perform for tourists, live behind fences, or be forgotten once the gates closed. They deserve more than a silent ending. They deserve sanctuary, not euthanasia.

New Zealand has the opportunity to show the world that compassion still matters — and that when we see cruelty, we respond with care.

Add your name to demand that the five surviving lions are protected, not discarded.