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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are heartbroken,” said the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant capital investment,” the operator noted.

In a subsequent statement, the park announced 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 incurable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be put down.

“A few individuals have shown interest in purchasing the property and providing for the lions. While the window is limited and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to investigate this option and keep hope alive.”

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

The facility’s posts were filled with responses from the community, begging for a second chance for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the decision to put them down.

The director noted that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we appeal for consideration and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer explained that euthanasia had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The park attained minor fame in the early part of the century when it was shown on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary frequently experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency directed the facility to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.