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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

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

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the operator added.

In a later announcement, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is tight and the situation remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would rethink the plan to put them down.

The manager noted that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request compassion and respect as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal care and containment obligations.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and employment issues, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the facility to close until the enclosures were improved. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.