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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors 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 seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly 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 operator explained.

In a recent statement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the manager stated.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were filled with responses from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the park would review the course of action to end their lives.

The director mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and abusive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for kindness and respect as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the choice to humanely kill the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director explained that euthanasia had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done properly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The facility repeatedly experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.