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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online post, the facility clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable capital investment,” the operator added.

In a subsequent update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were worsening. These choices were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or compassionate option” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager noted that alongside the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we navigate this tragic predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department indicated that the determination to humanely kill the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and security responsibilities.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the government agency directed the park to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.