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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a online post, the facility explained 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 euthanised “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are devastated,” stated the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant financial backing,” the manager added.

In a subsequent update, the park verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator said.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is tight and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The director mentioned that amid the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request consideration and respect as we navigate this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the determination to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and containment obligations.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The park frequently ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the park to shut down until the enclosures were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.