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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to put down two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

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

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the operator noted.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing all we can to pursue this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by responses from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would rethink the decision to put them down.

The director stated that alongside the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and offensive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request consideration and courtesy as we handle this devastating situation.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the establishment 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 famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to close until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.