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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the director noted.

In a later announcement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director stated.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or compassionate choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from members of the public, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would reconsider the course of action to end their lives.

The director noted that among the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to hostile and abusive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the decision to put down the lions was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be carried out humanely, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park often encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the government agency directed the establishment to close until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.