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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to put down two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the manager noted.

In a subsequent statement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A several interested parties have shown interest in buying the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is limited and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or compassionate alternative” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were filled with responses from members of the public, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The operator mentioned that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered menacing and abusive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the decision to euthanise the big cats lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A senior official stated that humane killing had to be performed ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary often ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the establishment to close until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.