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

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

In a online announcement, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are deeply saddened,” stated the park’s director.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant monetary input,” the director noted.

In a subsequent update, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the property and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from the community, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed hope that the facility would review the decision to put them down.

The director mentioned that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered hostile and abusive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we ask for consideration and decency as we manage this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to euthanise the big cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be conducted ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson said. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to close until the habitats were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.