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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media update, the facility explained that its owner 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 landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” commented the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant financial backing,” the operator added.

In a subsequent statement, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

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

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the facility would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The director mentioned that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and insulting remarks.

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

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and security obligations.”

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

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary frequently encountered monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the park to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.