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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media announcement, the facility explained that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable capital investment,” the operator added.

In a later update, the park verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These choices were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the operator said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while past workers expressed hope that the park would rethink the decision to put them down.

The operator stated that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and decency as we navigate this tragic predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department stated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be conducted ethically, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the establishment to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.