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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media update, the facility explained that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable capital investment,” the manager noted.

In a recent announcement, the sanctuary confirmed 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 deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is limited and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical choice” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by messages from the community, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the facility would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The operator noted that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we ask for kindness and respect as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the determination to euthanise the lions rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that euthanasia had to be carried out compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and security obligations.”

The park achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the facility to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.