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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to put down two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the director noted.

In a later update, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane choice” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were filled with comments from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would review the decision to euthanise them.

The operator stated that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and abusive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we appeal for consideration and decency as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be conducted humanely, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to verify this is done appropriately,” the official said. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal welfare and security requirements.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility often experienced monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the park to close until the habitats were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.