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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife park in the northern city 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 group of 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 team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial financial backing,” the operator noted.

In a recent statement, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Although the window is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to pursue this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or humane choice” due to their age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to put them down.

The director noted that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to threatening and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we navigate this devastating situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the determination to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that euthanasia had to be performed ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and security requirements.”

The sanctuary gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary frequently ran into economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.