The float was under-subscribed leaving the company A$10 million short of funds and unable to complete its network of sanctuaries in the eastern states of Australia.

[5] In 2003, part of the site was subdivided by property developers During the mid-2000s, Earth Sanctuaries Limited was delisted from the Australian stock exchange.

In 2006 the sanctuary was bought by Anthony Miller, owner of the Gumeracha Toy Factory and Big Rocking Horse, with a commitment to continue operations.

[8] However, in February 2013 Zoos South Australia announced that they had withdrawn their support for the Sanctuary due to it being an unsustainable return on their investment.

[9] In 2017, the abandoned Sanctuary was purchased by Narelle MacPherson and David Cobbold, a couple from Peel Zoo in Pinjarra, Western Australia.