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

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media update, the establishment indicated 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 euthanised “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” commented the park’s director.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial financial backing,” the operator explained.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed hope that the park would review the decision to end their lives.

The manager stated that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we request kindness and respect as we handle this tragic situation.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the decision to put down the lions rested with the owners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A senior official explained that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The sanctuary gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced economic issues and employment issues, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency directed the facility to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.