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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online post, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the operator explained.

In a subsequent update, the park 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 not treatable and were worsening. These choices were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the operator said.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. Although the window is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from the community, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The manager noted that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to hostile and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and decency as we manage this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to euthanise the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be conducted compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be present to ensure this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were improved. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.