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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to euthanise two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a online update, the establishment clarified that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial capital investment,” the manager noted.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be put down.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane option” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from the community, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and insulting messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and decency as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to euthanise the lions lay with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A senior official explained that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its animal care and security obligations.”

The sanctuary achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.