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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media post, the facility explained 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 euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial financial backing,” the manager added.

In a recent statement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in purchasing the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane option” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that among the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and respect as we navigate this devastating circumstance.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A senior official explained that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the representative stated. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and security 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 rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary often encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the facility to close until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.