🔗 Share this article

A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to put down two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online update, the establishment explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant capital investment,” the director added.

In a subsequent statement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator said.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the deadline is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were filled with comments from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the decision to put them down.

The manager stated that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received menacing and abusive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request kindness and decency as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to put down the lions lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that euthanasia had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly experienced financial trouble and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the establishment to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.