Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park is in financial crisis with a $4 million hole in the zoo's budget.The park's board and managers said no decision had been made about its future but available cash reserves were forecast to run out by March 2027.The zoo had developed a financial sustainability and recovery plan to deal with the crisis, two years after raising concerns about "inevitable financial demise" if Christchurch City Council did not provide annual long-term funding.The council ultimately agreed to provide $500,000 per year for three years.In 2024 a 1News investigation revealed a string of animal deaths and injuries at the zoo.The park's leaders responded by defending its track record and saying allegations of poor animal welfare were "taken out of context".Orana Wildlife Park chief executive Lynn Anderson resigned in November 2024 and was replaced by Rachel Haydon in February 2025.The zoo also paused taking new animals for six months in December 2024.Orana Wildlife Park Trust co-chair Ken Hughey (L) and Orana chief executive Rachel Haydon.RNZ / Adam BurnsOrana Wildlife Park Trust co-chair Dr Ken Hughey said the current financial situation was dire but the board believed there was a credible solution."We have a recovery plan, a stronger organisation and a good understanding of what needs to be done. We now need support from local and central government, philanthropy, businesses, major donors and the community to give that plan time to succeed," he said."We do not want to cause unnecessary alarm but we must be realistic and honest. Orana is facing the most serious financial challenge in its history, at the same time as we celebrate turning 50 this month."A 2024 investigation by the Zoo and Aquarium Association, in the wake of 1News' reporting, suggested improvements to animal welfare processes, organisational systems, health and safety, asset management and workplace culture.The park's board also asked agency Culture by Design to assess the park's workplace culture following the 2024 claims."The reviews required Orana to confront some very difficult issues," Hughey said."The board accepted the findings, apologised for the position the park had reached and committed to making the changes needed. Importantly the reviews gave us the most complete picture we have ever had of what is required to operate a safe, modern and accredited wildlife park."They also confirmed that while Orana has the fundamentals needed for long-term success, historical under investment and budgets had not always reflected the true cost of meeting those standards."A Sumatran tiger at the park.RNZ / Nate McKinnonThe zoo had used significant reserves over the past two years to rebuild the organisation, including the appointment of a new chief executive, strengthening governance and financial oversight, employing seven additional exotic animal keepers and appointing two veterinary nurses.The changes were necessary for the park to retain its accreditation, Hughey said.Closing the park was not an option, Hughey said."We don't think that's a realistic option. We've been told by a number of people that we're too important to close and we take that seriously because we're part of a global network," he said."We manage animals on a global basis and we support particular species, including New Zealand species where we work closely with other enterprises. So I think you put all of those things together and that option probably isn't even realistic because we think all of the other things that we're doing now and we're pretty confident that will absolutely assure our future."The board commissioned BDO Christchurch to assess Orana's planned budget and financial sustainability.BDO confirmed an immediate budget shortfall of about $4.1m to July 2027.Hughey said BDO also found further cost reductions would not solve the zoo's underlying problems and growing revenue alone would not close the funding gap.Haydon said zoos had high fixed costs and constant responsibilities."You cannot mothball a giraffe or pause the care of a gorilla while waiting for revenue and visitation to improve," she said."Animals require quality food, veterinary care, secure habitats, heating or cooling, life support systems and monitoring every day of the year by specialist staff.""Food for the animal species alone is circa $410,000 a year. Our electricity bill's budgeted for about $225,000. So we've got big budget lines."We've got about 25 staff in our exotics team alone. These are specialist staff. You need to try and pay them for the skills and experience that they bring to the role."We half joke about not being able to mothball a giraffe, but it is true. There are high fixed costs with an organisation like a wildlife park. You don't get to just close the doors and walk away. It is a 365-day-a-year operation."BDO found 57 percent of Wellington Zoo's 2025 revenue came from council funding, grants and donations compared to only 23 percent of Orana's revenue.A sign at the park in 2024.RNZ / Nate McKinnonThe council's previous financial support came before the reviews of the zoo were completed."That support bought Orana time and helped us begin rebuilding but those earlier requests were made before the reviews were completed and before we understood the full cost of operating the park as a modern, safe and fully accredited organisation," Haydon said.Hughey said Orana had again been discussing its financial situation with the city council."Council is a key partner but Orana can't ask council to solve this alone," he said."We now know what it costs to operate Orana properly and what investment is needed to secure its future."We have also started work on a long-term master plan for the park. It will take time and sustained investment but this is about more than keeping Orana open. It is about building a wildlife park that Christchurch and New Zealand can be proud of for the next 50 years."Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger said Orana Park had made the council aware of the situation.A report is expected to go to the Christchurch City Council at an upcoming meeting.He would not comment further until the council received that report.Hughey said Orana Wildlife Park was an icon and a taonga."We know we have to diversify our funding streams and open up a new model. So we're working with local government, we're working with central government, we're working potentially with private funders, hopefully some larger ones, and of course we've got those initiatives like Givealittle which we hope will turn into give a lot. So we are very confident that we put all of those things together and we will be sustainable going forward into the future."The park hoped to make a significant announcement in about three weeks, Hughey said.Orana is one of only two zoos breeding kākāriki karaka - New Zealand's rarest parakeet - for release into the wild.The park needed to increase visitor numbers and revenue, and secure ongoing financial support from donors and government."The situation is dire and time is tight but we have a plan and we believe Orana has a future," Hughey said."We are asking Christchurch, Canterbury and New Zealand to get behind us and help secure Orana for the next 50 years."