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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a online update, 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 challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant capital investment,” the manager explained.

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

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

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or compassionate choice” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were filled with messages from the community, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the park would review the decision to end their lives.

The operator noted that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this tragic situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be conducted ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to verify this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained minor fame in the early part of the century when it featured on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

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 switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.