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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online post, the establishment explained that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the operator explained.

In a recent update, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and consideration,” the director stated.

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

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to pursue this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or compassionate choice” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from members of the public, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while past workers expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the course of action to end their lives.

The director stated that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and abusive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we request consideration and respect as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

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

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The facility frequently experienced monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.