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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment clarified 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 “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the director noted.

In a subsequent announcement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. While the window is tight and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to pursue this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were filled with messages from members of the public, requesting a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would review the decision to euthanise them.

The manager stated that among the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and abusive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request compassion and respect as we manage this devastating situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to humanely kill the cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer commented that euthanasia had to be conducted ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to verify this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved some recognition in the early part of the century when it was shown on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to close until the habitats were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.