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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media update, the facility clarified that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the park’s director.

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the operator added.

In a later statement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“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 consideration,” the operator stated.

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 expressed interest in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or ethical option” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from the community, begging for a second chance for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed hope that the park would review the course of action to put them down.

The operator noted that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered hostile and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we request compassion and courtesy as we navigate this devastating situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The government department stated that the decision to humanely kill the cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be carried out compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

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

The facility achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to cease operations until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.