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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to put down two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a online announcement, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are heartbroken,” said the park’s director.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the operator explained.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is limited and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by responses from the community, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would rethink the plan to put them down.

The director mentioned that alongside the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and offensive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that passions are strong, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its animal care and security responsibilities.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary often ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.