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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media post, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the director noted.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator stated.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with responses from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed hope that the facility would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The director noted that alongside the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and offensive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request compassion and courtesy as we handle this tragic predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director explained that humane killing had to be conducted ethically, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be present to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the park to close until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.