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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media update, the facility clarified that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a lion park under different management, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant capital investment,” the director added.

In a recent announcement, the park announced that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the manager said.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in buying the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the park would rethink the plan to put them down.

The director stated that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to threatening and abusive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the decision to put down the big cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A deputy director stated that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the representative noted. “We are confident that the facility continues to satisfy its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

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

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility often ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to close until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.