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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

In a online post, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property 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 property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the manager added.

In a recent statement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were declining. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the operator stated.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with responses from members of the public, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The director mentioned that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and courtesy as we manage this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department clarified that the determination to humanely kill the big cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The facility gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility frequently encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency directed the establishment to close until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.