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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media update, the establishment indicated that its owner had listed the land 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 property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are heartbroken,” commented the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the operator added.

In a later announcement, the park announced that two of its lions had been put down.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were worsening. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate 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 specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to end their lives.

The director noted that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and abusive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request kindness and decency as we navigate this devastating situation.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be conducted ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it was shown on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to close until the habitats were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.