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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a online update, the establishment explained 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 challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are heartbroken,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant capital investment,” the operator explained.

In a recent update, 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 serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by responses from the community, requesting a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the park would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The director noted that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered hostile and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We understand that passions are strong, but we request consideration and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department clarified that the determination to euthanise the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director commented that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the representative noted. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park often encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the facility to cease operations until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.