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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a online announcement, the establishment indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the park’s director.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable monetary input,” the manager explained.

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

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were worsening. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the window is limited and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or humane alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from members of the public, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the park would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The director noted that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for consideration and decency as we manage this devastating situation.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the determination to humanely kill the lions rested with the owners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its animal care and containment requirements.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary frequently ran into financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to cease operations until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.