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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable financial backing,” the operator added.

In a subsequent announcement, the sanctuary verified 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 deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the manager remarked.

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 expressed interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the window is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this possibility and maintain optimism.”

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

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager noted that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and respect as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to put down the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer explained that euthanasia had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to verify this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility often experienced monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.