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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a online post, the establishment indicated 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 put down “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the director noted.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the director stated.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or compassionate alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from members of the public, begging for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The director mentioned that among the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to hostile and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request consideration and decency as we handle this devastating predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the determination to euthanise the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be carried out ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly encountered economic issues and employment issues, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.