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

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

In a social media announcement, the facility indicated 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 “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial financial backing,” the manager noted.

In a later announcement, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The operator mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also received hostile and abusive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to put down the big cats lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be present to ensure this is done properly,” the representative noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure obligations.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The park repeatedly encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the facility to shut down until the habitats were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.