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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to put down two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

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

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

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial monetary input,” the director explained.

In a recent announcement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Although the window is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

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

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, requesting a stay of execution for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that among the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and decency as we navigate this tragic predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to put down the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official stated that euthanasia had to be conducted ethically, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal care and security obligations.”

The sanctuary gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The facility repeatedly ran into financial trouble and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to close until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.