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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online update, the facility clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the manager explained.

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

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the manager remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is tight and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the park would rethink the plan to end their lives.

The director mentioned that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received hostile and insulting remarks.

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

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the choice to humanely kill the lions lay with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer explained that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be present to ensure this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and security requirements.”

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

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to cease operations until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.