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

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online announcement, 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 put down “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant monetary input,” the operator added.

In a subsequent statement, the park verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were declining. These decisions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the manager said.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the property and providing for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing all we can to pursue this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane choice” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the course of action to put them down.

The director mentioned that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also received threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we navigate this tragic situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the decision to put down the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be carried out compassionately, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official said. “We are assured that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The facility achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

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

The park frequently encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the park to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.