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

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media update, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are heartbroken,” said the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial financial backing,” the operator added.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the director said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be put down.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or compassionate option” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from members of the public, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the park would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The manager noted that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered hostile and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request compassion and decency as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the choice to euthanise the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The sanctuary gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.