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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 other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the facility indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but significant financial backing,” the director noted.

In a later announcement, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to pursue this possibility and keep hope alive.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from members of the public, requesting a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The manager noted that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and abusive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we request consideration and courtesy as we navigate this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to humanely kill the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A deputy director explained that euthanasia had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The facility repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.