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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to put down two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media update, the establishment explained that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging 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 possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable capital investment,” the director added.

In a later update, the park announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were declining. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. While the window is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to pursue this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were filled with comments from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The manager noted that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and insulting messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we ask for compassion and courtesy as we handle this devastating predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be carried out ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are assured that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The sanctuary attained minor fame in the early part of the century when it appeared on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.