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

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

In a social media post, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had put the property 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 property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. 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 scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable monetary input,” the operator added.

In a recent announcement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or compassionate choice” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from members of the public, begging for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The operator noted that among the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we appeal for consideration and respect as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to humanely kill the big cats lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be on location to verify this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security obligations.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The facility often ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.