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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior 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 closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a online 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 “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant capital investment,” the operator added.

In a later update, the sanctuary 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 worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the director stated.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in buying the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the window is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or compassionate option” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

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

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

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we navigate this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to put down the cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be performed ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to verify this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are confident that the establishment continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security obligations.”

The park achieved minor fame in the early part of the century when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often ran into monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the establishment to shut down until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.