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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

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

In a online update, the establishment clarified that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial monetary input,” the manager added.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A several interested parties have shown interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Even though the window is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from the community, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to end their lives.

The operator noted that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we request kindness and respect as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

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

“An regulatory officer will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal care and containment obligations.”

The facility attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

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

The sanctuary often ran into monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.