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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to put down two of its older lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media announcement, the facility explained 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 put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial capital investment,” the manager explained.

In a subsequent update, the facility announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were declining. These decisions were made with deep care and consideration,” the director remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the property and providing for the lions. Although the window is short and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or compassionate choice” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were filled with messages from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while past workers expressed hope that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The operator stated that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we manage this devastating situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to humanely kill the cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer explained that putting down had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are confident that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the facility to shut down until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.