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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 outcome of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media post, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable financial backing,” the director added.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in purchasing the property and providing for the lions. Although the window is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while past workers expressed hope that the park would reconsider the course of action to end their lives.

The director stated that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to put down the lions was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official said. “We are confident that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and security requirements.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early part of the century when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to close until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.