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

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a online post, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” stated the facility’s manager.

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

In a subsequent announcement, the sanctuary announced 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 deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from the community, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would reconsider the plan to euthanise them.

The manager noted that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and offensive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request kindness and decency as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the determination to euthanise the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the representative stated. “We are assured that the establishment continues to meet its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The facility often experienced monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the establishment to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.