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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to euthanise two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment clarified that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial capital investment,” the operator noted.

In a subsequent statement, the sanctuary confirmed 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 incurable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the operator said.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is tight and the situation remain uncertain, 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 alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from members of the public, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while past workers expressed desire that the park would review the course of action to put them down.

The operator mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for consideration and respect as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department indicated that the choice to put down the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

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

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to verify this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park often encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the park to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.