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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was forced to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment clarified that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are devastated,” said the park’s director.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial financial backing,” the manager noted.

In a later announcement, the park verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were declining. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were filled with responses from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the park would rethink the decision to put them down.

The director noted that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered menacing and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and decency as we navigate this devastating situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to humanely kill the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director commented that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be present to verify this is done correctly,” the spokesperson said. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure obligations.”

The park attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary frequently ran into economic issues and employment issues, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the establishment to cease operations until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.