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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, 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, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are devastated,” stated the park’s director.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but significant financial backing,” the operator noted.

In a recent announcement, 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 decisions were made with deep care 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 expressed interest in purchasing the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, requesting a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the park would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The operator noted that alongside the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and abusive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to euthanise the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The facility achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the park to close until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.