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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media post, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable capital investment,” the director noted.

In a recent statement, the park announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

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

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or compassionate alternative” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to euthanise them.

The director stated that alongside the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the decision to humanely kill the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

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

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

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

The sanctuary frequently experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to close until the habitats were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.