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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the 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, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable financial backing,” the manager explained.

In a subsequent statement, 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 declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the director remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would review the course of action to end their lives.

The director stated that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and offensive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request compassion and courtesy as we manage this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The government department indicated that the decision to euthanise the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A senior official explained that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility often encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.