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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to put down two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media announcement, the facility indicated that its owner 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 “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the operator noted.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and consideration,” the operator said.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Although the timeframe is limited and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to investigate this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while past workers expressed desire that the park would rethink the plan to end their lives.

The operator stated that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we manage this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the choice to euthanise the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

The facility achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently encountered economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.