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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media post, the facility clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial financial backing,” the operator added.

In a recent announcement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or humane option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from the community, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would review the course of action to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request kindness and courtesy as we navigate this tragic predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the official stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security requirements.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The park often ran into financial trouble and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to close until the facilities were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.