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

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a online post, the establishment explained 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 property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the manager explained.

In a subsequent statement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is tight and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from members of the public, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the plan to put them down.

The director noted that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to threatening and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and decency as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

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

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to cease operations until the habitats were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.