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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the facility clarified that its owner 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 “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant capital investment,” the operator explained.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. While the window is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with responses from members of the public, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed hope that the park would review the course of action to end their lives.

The operator noted that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to threatening and abusive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we appeal for consideration and respect as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department stated that the determination to put down the lions was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer explained that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are assured that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security obligations.”

The park attained minor fame in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park frequently ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the park to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.