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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to put down two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media update, the establishment explained 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 challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable monetary input,” the manager added.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director said.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in purchasing the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by messages from members of the public, pleading for a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would rethink the course of action to end their lives.

The operator mentioned that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also received threatening and offensive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we request compassion and respect as we navigate this tragic circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the determination to euthanise the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official stated that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and containment responsibilities.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced financial trouble and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to close until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.