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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online post, the facility explained that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the manager noted.

In a later announcement, the facility 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 declining. These actions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the director remarked.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to investigate this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane option” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from the community, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would review the plan to put them down.

The operator stated that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to threatening and abusive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done appropriately,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its animal care and containment requirements.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park frequently ran into economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the establishment to close until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.