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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to put down two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment 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 team and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the director noted.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary confirmed 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 not treatable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the manager stated.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. While the deadline is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical choice” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by comments from the community, pleading for a second chance for the other big cats, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to euthanise them.

The director stated that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and insulting messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request kindness and respect as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to put down the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be carried out ethically, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The facility attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park repeatedly experienced economic issues and employment issues, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.