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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media post, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are devastated,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a lion park under different management, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the operator noted.

In a later update, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These choices were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director said.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from members of the public, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the facility would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered hostile and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request consideration and courtesy as we manage this heartbreaking predicament.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to put down the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A senior official stated that putting down had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and security requirements.”

The facility gained 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 encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.