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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial financial backing,” the director added.

In a recent announcement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the manager said.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in purchasing the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or compassionate choice” due to their age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were filled with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the facility would reconsider the course of action to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that among the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and courtesy as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The sanctuary gained some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the establishment to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.