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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment explained that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are heartbroken,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but significant monetary input,” the manager explained.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary announced 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 untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane choice” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to end their lives.

The manager stated that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and respect as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

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

A high-ranking officer commented that euthanasia had to be carried out ethically, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The facility achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary frequently ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.