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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a online announcement, the facility indicated that its proprietor 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 “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable financial backing,” the operator added.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were declining. These actions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is short and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing all we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or ethical option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from the community, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the decision to end their lives.

The director stated that alongside the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request consideration and courtesy as we handle this devastating predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to humanely kill the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and security obligations.”

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

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility often encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to close until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.