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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a online update, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are devastated,” commented the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the director added.

In a later 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 significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director said.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in purchasing the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from members of the public, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The director stated that alongside the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and offensive remarks.

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

The landowner declined to comment.

The government department stated that the decision to euthanise the lions rested with the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official explained that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

The sanctuary gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary frequently encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to close until the enclosures were improved. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.