🔗 Share this article

A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated 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 city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the facility indicated that its owner 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 “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial capital investment,” the operator added.

In a later statement, 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 untreatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in buying the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane option” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were filled with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the decision to euthanise them.

The operator noted that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to hostile and insulting messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and respect as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to put down the lions lay with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer stated that euthanasia had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and security responsibilities.”

The park gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the establishment to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.