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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial capital investment,” the manager noted.

In a subsequent statement, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in buying the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the window is tight and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or compassionate alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from members of the public, requesting a stay of execution for the other big cats, while past workers expressed hope that the facility would rethink the course of action to end their lives.

The director noted that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request consideration and decency as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A senior official stated that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The facility frequently experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to close until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.