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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a online post, the facility clarified that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the manager noted.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These actions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the director remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. While the window is limited and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The director stated that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for consideration and decency as we handle this devastating situation.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The government department stated that the decision to euthanise the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A high-ranking officer explained that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be present to verify this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently experienced monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the establishment to cease operations until the facilities were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.