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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online post, the establishment explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant monetary input,” the manager added.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director stated.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The manager mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and abusive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request compassion and decency as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the decision to put down the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

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

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and security requirements.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary often encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to close until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.