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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its older lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media update, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable monetary input,” the manager explained.

In a later announcement, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These decisions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be put down.

“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from members of the public, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that amid the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered menacing and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department indicated that the determination to humanely kill the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be carried out humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and containment obligations.”

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

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently ran into economic issues and employment issues, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.