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

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

In a social media post, the facility explained that its owner had listed the land 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.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” said the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant financial backing,” the manager added.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director remarked.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. Although the window is short and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

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

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager stated that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we appeal for consideration and decency as we navigate this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to humanely kill the lions rested with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary frequently encountered monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.