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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to put down two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the facility explained 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 challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable monetary input,” the director explained.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These actions 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 indicated willingness in buying the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to pursue this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the facility would review the course of action to put them down.

The manager noted that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to hostile and abusive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we ask for kindness and respect as we handle this tragic predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to put down the cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be carried out compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The facility attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary often ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the park to shut down until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.