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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media post, the facility explained that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the director added.

In a recent announcement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator stated.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in acquiring the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from members of the public, begging for a reprieve for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to put them down.

The director noted that alongside the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and offensive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We understand that passions are strong, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the choice to euthanise the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be performed ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security responsibilities.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

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

The sanctuary often encountered monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to cease operations until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.