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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment explained that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the facility’s manager.

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial financial backing,” the director explained.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the director said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and maintain optimism.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from the community, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while past workers expressed desire that the facility would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The manager stated that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and offensive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and respect as we navigate this tragic predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer explained that humane killing had to be carried out compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its animal welfare and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park frequently encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.