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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 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 sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant monetary input,” the operator added.

In a recent update, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been put down.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were declining. These decisions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the park would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The manager mentioned that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and respect as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the choice to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director explained that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the representative said. “We are assured that the operation continues to satisfy its animal care and security obligations.”

The sanctuary attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park often ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency instructed the facility to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.