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A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

In a online post, the facility explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” stated the facility’s manager.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable financial backing,” the operator explained.

In a recent announcement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from members of the public, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the course of action to end their lives.

The director mentioned that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and respect as we navigate this devastating situation.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The government department stated that the choice to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director explained that euthanasia had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The facility gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary often experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to shut down until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.