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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a online announcement, the establishment explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the facility’s manager.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable capital investment,” the manager noted.

In a recent 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 untreatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. While the window is short and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to investigate this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or ethical option” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the plan to end their lives.

The director mentioned that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and offensive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we manage this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to put down the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official stated that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and employment issues, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the establishment to shut down until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.