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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to put down two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media post, the establishment indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the operator added.

In a recent update, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been put down.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the operator said.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the window is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane option” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with responses from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received hostile and abusive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we ask for compassion and decency as we navigate this devastating situation.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to euthanise the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be carried out ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

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

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to close until the enclosures were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.