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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media update, the establishment indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial capital investment,” the operator noted.

In a later statement, the sanctuary verified 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 untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the director remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were filled with responses from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the sanctuary would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The operator stated that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to hostile and abusive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and decency as we manage this devastating situation.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to euthanise the lions rested with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the spokesperson said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The park attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently experienced financial trouble and employment issues, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.