🔗 Share this article

A financially troubled wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media post, the facility indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are heartbroken,” stated the facility’s manager.

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial financial backing,” the operator added.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is limited 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 “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from the community, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the facility would rethink the decision to put them down.

The manager stated that alongside the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also received threatening and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we request kindness and respect as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the decision to put down the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official said. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its wildlife protection and enclosure obligations.”

The facility achieved some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly ran into financial trouble and employment issues, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to close until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.