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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a online announcement, the establishment explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“Although it might possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the manager added.

In a later update, the facility confirmed 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 untreatable and were declining. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager said.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. While the window is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical choice” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by responses from the community, requesting a second chance for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The operator mentioned that alongside the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for consideration and respect as we manage this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department clarified that the determination to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer commented that euthanasia had to be carried out humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its wildlife protection and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary often experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.