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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a online update, the establishment explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” stated the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant financial backing,” the director explained.

In a later update, the park verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

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

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A several interested parties have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

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

The facility’s posts were filled with messages from members of the public, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the park would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The operator noted that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to hostile and abusive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and decency as we handle this tragic situation.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The government department stated that the determination to humanely kill the lions lay with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official stated. “We are confident that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security obligations.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park often experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.