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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media update, the facility clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable capital investment,” the director added.

In a subsequent announcement, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A several interested parties have shown interest in purchasing the property and providing for the lions. While the window is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the decision to end their lives.

The director mentioned that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered menacing and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request compassion and courtesy as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the determination to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and containment responsibilities.”

The facility achieved some recognition in the early part of the century when it featured on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.