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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny 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 facility indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are devastated,” said the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial financial backing,” the director noted.

In a subsequent update, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the plan to put them down.

The operator noted that alongside the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and offensive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and decency as we manage this tragic situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to euthanise the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer explained that putting down had to be performed ethically, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to satisfy its animal care and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the facility to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.