🔗 Share this article

A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media post, the facility clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable financial backing,” the operator added.

In a subsequent announcement, the sanctuary 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 incurable and were declining. These decisions were made with deep care and consideration,” the operator stated.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in buying the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is limited and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from the community, requesting a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the plan to put them down.

The operator stated that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for kindness and decency as we navigate this devastating circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be performed ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done properly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal care and containment responsibilities.”

The facility gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the establishment to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.