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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are devastated,” stated the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial capital investment,” the director added.

In a later announcement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the property and providing for the lions. While the deadline is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or compassionate option” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, pleading for a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the course of action to put them down.

The director stated that alongside the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We understand that passions are strong, but we request kindness and respect as we manage this tragic situation.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer stated that euthanasia had to be carried out compassionately, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and security requirements.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary frequently experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the park to close until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.