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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media post, the establishment clarified 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 “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” commented the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial monetary input,” the director noted.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the property and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to pursue this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from members of the public, begging for a reprieve for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The manager mentioned that among the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and respect as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer explained that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the official said. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its animal welfare and security responsibilities.”

The park attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary frequently ran into economic issues and employment issues, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.