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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

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

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

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but significant monetary input,” the operator explained.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from the community, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to put them down.

The operator stated that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and respect as we manage this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to humanely kill the big cats lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director explained that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson said. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and security requirements.”

The facility achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to cease operations until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.