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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to put down two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a online post, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial monetary input,” the operator added.

In a subsequent announcement, the facility verified 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 not treatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with deep care and consideration,” the operator said.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the deadline is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or compassionate alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from members of the public, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the sanctuary would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The director stated that among the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also received menacing and abusive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request compassion and courtesy as we manage this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the determination to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be performed ethically, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and enclosure obligations.”

The facility gained minor fame in the early part of the century when it was shown on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The facility frequently ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the park to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.