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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media update, the facility explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the director noted.

In a subsequent update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in purchasing the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to pursue this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with responses from members of the public, pleading for a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would review the decision to put them down.

The manager stated that among the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request compassion and courtesy as we manage this tragic situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the decision to euthanise the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be performed ethically, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and security obligations.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park repeatedly ran into financial trouble and employment issues, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the establishment to shut down until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.