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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to put down two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

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

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the operator explained.

In a recent update, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the director said.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

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

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to end their lives.

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

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we navigate this tragic predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the determination to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done correctly,” the representative said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and containment requirements.”

The facility gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The facility frequently experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to close until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.