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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to put down two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media announcement, the facility clarified 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 tough decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are devastated,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant monetary input,” the director explained.

In a subsequent statement, the park verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the operator stated.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to pursue this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or humane alternative” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were filled with comments from members of the public, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would reconsider the plan to euthanise them.

The operator mentioned that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and abusive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request consideration and decency as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the decision to put down the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the representative noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and security obligations.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary often ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to close until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.