Troubled NZ Animal Sanctuary Puts Down Two Lions, Future of Five More Unclear

A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media post, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are devastated,” said the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable monetary input,” the manager noted.

In a subsequent announcement, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with comments from the community, begging for a second chance for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the park would rethink the decision to put them down.

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

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request consideration and respect as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the determination to euthanise the lions rested with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The park attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility frequently ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to close until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.