Troubled NZ Animal Sanctuary Euthanises Pair of Lions, Fate of Five More Unclear

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

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a online update, the establishment explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the manager noted.

In a later statement, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

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

The facility’s posts were filled with messages from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the facility would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The manager mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we request compassion and decency as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer explained that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the official said. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security obligations.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility often ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the establishment to close until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.