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

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

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

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant financial backing,” the director noted.

In a recent announcement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the director said.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to pursue this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would review the course of action to put them down.

The manager stated that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to menacing and offensive comments.

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

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department indicated that the choice to humanely kill the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official stated that euthanasia had to be performed humanely, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be onsite to confirm this is done appropriately,” the official said. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary often ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to cease operations until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.