🔗 Share this article

A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a online post, the establishment explained that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial monetary input,” the director noted.

In a later update, the facility announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the operator said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the property and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The manager noted that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and abusive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department indicated that the choice to humanely kill the big cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal care and containment obligations.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early part of the century when it was shown on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility often ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the park to close until the habitats were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.