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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to put down two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online post, the facility explained 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 “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant monetary input,” the director explained.

In a recent statement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and consideration,” the director remarked.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Although the window is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or compassionate option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from members of the public, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The operator mentioned that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered hostile and abusive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request kindness and courtesy as we navigate this tragic circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the choice to euthanise the cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The sanctuary gained some recognition in the early part of the century when it was shown on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The park often encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the establishment to cease operations until the enclosures were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.