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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant capital investment,” the manager noted.

In a later announcement, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or ethical choice” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for compassion and decency as we manage this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the decision to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

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

“An regulatory officer will be present to ensure this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary frequently encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the government agency directed the facility to shut down until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.