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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to euthanise two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media post, the facility explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

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

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the director stated.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and keep hope alive.”

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

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed desire that the facility would rethink the course of action to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that alongside the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to menacing and offensive comments.

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

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A senior official explained that humane killing had to be carried out compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to verify this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

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

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.