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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

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

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial financial backing,” the manager explained.

In a subsequent update, the park verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Although the window is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or humane choice” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by responses from members of the public, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed hope that the facility would rethink the plan to put them down.

The director noted that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and respect as we manage this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the plan.

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

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the representative said. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The facility achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered financial trouble and employment issues, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to close until the habitats were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.