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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to euthanise two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment indicated that its owner had put the property 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.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the manager explained.

In a recent update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing all we can to pursue this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or humane alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from the community, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The operator noted that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and abusive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we ask for consideration and decency as we manage this tragic situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the decision to euthanise the big cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A senior official stated that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to verify this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The park 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 soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park repeatedly encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the park to close until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.