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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the operator noted.

In a later statement, the park announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were declining. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. Although the window is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

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

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the plan to put them down.

The operator mentioned that alongside the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also received hostile and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department clarified that the choice to euthanise the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be conducted ethically, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

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

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary often encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the facility to close until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.