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

The private wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media update, the establishment explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the manager added.

In a later announcement, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or humane option” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from concerned citizens, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would rethink the course of action to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that among the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to hostile and abusive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we handle this devastating predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to humanely kill the lions rested with the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The facility gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park repeatedly encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.