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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media update, the establishment clarified that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are heartbroken,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable capital investment,” the manager explained.

In a later update, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would reconsider the course of action to end their lives.

The manager stated that alongside the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and decency as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to put down the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The park often experienced monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to cease operations until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.