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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to put down two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the facility explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are heartbroken,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant monetary input,” the operator noted.

In a subsequent statement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to pursue this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or compassionate option” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from members of the public, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The operator stated that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and offensive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and decency as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to euthanise the lions lay with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be present to confirm this is done appropriately,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to satisfy its animal care and security requirements.”

The sanctuary gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly encountered economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.