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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to put down two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

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

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial financial backing,” the director added.

In a subsequent announcement, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director said.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. Although the window is short and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or humane choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from members of the public, requesting a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The operator noted that among the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and abusive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for consideration and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official explained that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and security requirements.”

The park achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly encountered economic issues and employment issues, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency directed the park to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.