A New Zealand wildlife sanctuary says it has euthanized two of its seven elderly lions after closing for financial reasons, with five more at risk of the same fate.

The privately owned sanctuary, located in Whangārei, the northernmost city in the island nation, officially closed to the public last weekend. In a statement earlier this week, it said the seven lions who lived there, ranging in age from 18 to 21, would be euthanized “following a difficult decision made by the property owners, Bolton Equities.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are devastated,” Janette Vallance, director of the sanctuary, was quoted as saying.

The property is for sale and could potentially continue to serve as a home for the lions, but that would require “significant capital investment,”

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