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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

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

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant financial backing,” the director noted.

In a subsequent announcement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to pursue this possibility and maintain optimism.”

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

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed hope that the park would rethink the decision to put them down.

The operator stated that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to hostile and offensive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we request consideration and respect as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the determination to euthanise the big cats lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be conducted ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be onsite to confirm this is done properly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the facility continues to meet its animal care and containment obligations.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early part of the century when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park repeatedly experienced monetary difficulties and employment issues, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the facility to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.