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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility explained that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the director noted.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the manager remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane option” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by responses from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The operator noted that amid the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered menacing and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and courtesy as we handle this devastating situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A deputy director explained that humane killing had to be performed ethically, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the facility continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

The facility achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility often encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to close until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.