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

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

In a social media announcement, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land 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.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but significant monetary input,” the manager noted.

In a recent statement, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These actions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and maintain optimism.”

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

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would review the decision to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to menacing and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for kindness and respect as we handle this tragic situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department clarified that the decision to humanely kill the lions lay with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be conducted ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are assured that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary often experienced monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the facility to close until the habitats were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.