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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to put down two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors 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, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable capital investment,” the manager noted.

In a subsequent statement, the sanctuary verified 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 worsening. These actions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator stated.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the window is tight and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to pursue this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

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

The facility’s posts were filled with messages from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed desire that the facility would review the decision to euthanise them.

The operator noted that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request compassion and courtesy as we manage this tragic situation.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to euthanise the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer explained that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security obligations.”

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

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility frequently encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to close until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.