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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online post, the establishment explained that its proprietor had listed the land 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 landowner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable capital investment,” the director noted.

In a later update, the park announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to pursue this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or humane alternative” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with responses from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while past workers expressed desire that the facility would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The director noted that alongside the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we handle this tragic situation.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to euthanise the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A senior official stated that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done properly,” the spokesperson said. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary gained 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 staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary frequently ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the establishment to close until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.