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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to euthanise two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a online post, the establishment clarified that its owner 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 difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the director noted.

In a subsequent update, the facility announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the manager stated.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to investigate this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane choice” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the decision to put them down.

The director mentioned that among the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and insulting messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the determination to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment obligations.”

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

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary often experienced monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to cease operations until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.