🔗 Share this article

A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment 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 challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial financial backing,” the manager explained.

In a recent update, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from the community, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The director noted that alongside the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request compassion and decency as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department clarified that the determination to put down the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be present to confirm this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly ran into economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to close until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.