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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to put down two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a online update, the facility explained that its owner 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 property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but significant monetary input,” the operator added.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and consideration,” the operator said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be put down.

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the plan to put them down.

The manager noted that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and abusive remarks.

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

The proprietor refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the choice to humanely kill the cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer commented that euthanasia had to be performed humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and security requirements.”

The facility achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.