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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

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

In a online announcement, the facility indicated that its owner 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.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the director explained.

In a later update, the facility announced that two of its lions had been put down.

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

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the park would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The operator stated that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and insulting messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for kindness and decency as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department stated that the decision to humanely kill the lions lay with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be conducted ethically, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the official said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

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

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to close until the facilities were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.