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

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media update, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are heartbroken,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial monetary input,” the operator noted.

In a later statement, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is limited and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to pursue this possibility and keep hope alive.”

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

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by responses from the community, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the park would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The manager noted that alongside the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we ask for consideration and decency as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to humanely kill the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official explained that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to verify this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently experienced monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to shut down until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.