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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the facility explained 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 euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the manager noted.

In a subsequent statement, the park 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 untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or compassionate choice” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from the community, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would reconsider the decision to end their lives.

The operator stated that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and abusive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we appeal for kindness and respect as we navigate this tragic predicament.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to euthanise the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The park achieved minor fame in the early part of the century when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.