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

The private wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media post, the facility indicated 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 challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are devastated,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable monetary input,” the director added.

In a later announcement, the park 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 incurable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director stated.

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. Although the deadline is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to pursue this possibility and keep hope alive.”

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

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would rethink the course of action to put them down.

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

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we request compassion and respect as we manage this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the choice to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official stated that humane killing had to be carried out compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

The sanctuary gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to shut down until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.