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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment clarified 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 put down “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable financial backing,” the operator noted.

In a later update, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or compassionate choice” due to their age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would review the plan to euthanise them.

The operator mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and offensive remarks.

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

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to put down the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director explained that euthanasia had to be performed ethically, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to shut down until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.