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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a social media update, the facility 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 difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but significant monetary input,” the manager explained.

In a later announcement, the facility announced 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 not treatable and were declining. These decisions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the director said.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in buying the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by messages from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The operator noted that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request consideration and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The government department indicated that the decision to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A deputy director stated that euthanasia had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the representative noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and security responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to shut down until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.