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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to put down two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment clarified 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 put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant capital investment,” the operator noted.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These decisions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the director said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or ethical alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the plan to end their lives.

The manager noted that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and abusive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that passions are strong, but we request kindness and decency as we navigate this devastating circumstance.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the official said. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal welfare and containment responsibilities.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently experienced economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.