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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the manager noted.

In a recent update, the facility announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director said.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in purchasing the facility and maintaining care for the lions. While the deadline is tight and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to pursue this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The operator noted that alongside the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to menacing and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and respect as we handle this tragic situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to put down the big cats rested with the owners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be carried out compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it was shown on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

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

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to close until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.