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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media post, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but significant financial backing,” the director explained.

In a subsequent update, the facility announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These choices were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Although the window is limited and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to pursue this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from members of the public, requesting a stay of execution for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would review the course of action to end their lives.

The director noted that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and respect as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to put down the lions lay with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the intention.

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

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and security obligations.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary frequently ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the government agency directed the park to shut down until the enclosures were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.