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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 remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” stated the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial capital investment,” the operator explained.

In a later update, the park verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were declining. These actions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is short and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or compassionate alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the park would review the decision to put them down.

The operator stated that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request compassion and respect as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A senior official explained that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done appropriately,” the representative noted. “We are assured that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and containment obligations.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to close until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.