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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media post, the facility clarified 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 euthanised “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are devastated,” stated the facility’s manager.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but significant capital investment,” the operator added.

In a recent announcement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the director stated.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. While the deadline is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from the community, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the park would reconsider the decision to put them down.

The operator stated that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for consideration and decency as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to put down the cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done properly,” the representative noted. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

The park gained minor fame in the early part of the century when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.