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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online update, the facility clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the 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 staff and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but significant monetary input,” the operator noted.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the director stated.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is limited and the situation 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 “feasible or compassionate choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from the community, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed hope that the park would reconsider the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager noted that amid the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We understand that emotions are high, but we appeal for consideration and courtesy as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the choice to put down the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director commented that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the official said. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal care and enclosure obligations.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park often encountered economic issues and employment issues, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the establishment to close until the enclosures were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.