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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment explained that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” stated the park’s director.

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial capital investment,” the operator noted.

In a recent update, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator said.

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 indicated willingness in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is tight and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

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

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from the community, pleading for a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the park would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The manager mentioned that alongside the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and offensive messages.

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

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the official said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The park repeatedly experienced financial trouble and employment issues, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.