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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media announcement, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial monetary input,” the director added.

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

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

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

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

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the plan to end their lives.

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

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we appeal for consideration and respect as we navigate this tragic predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the determination to put down the cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the intention.

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

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.