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

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

In a social media post, the establishment indicated 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 euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial financial backing,” the manager noted.

In a later statement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the operator said.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical choice” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from members of the public, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would review the plan to euthanise them.

The operator noted that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to hostile and abusive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to put down the big cats rested with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be present to ensure this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to satisfy its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary frequently ran into financial trouble and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.