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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media announcement, the facility clarified that its proprietor 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.”

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

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial monetary input,” the manager explained.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the manager remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and hold onto hope.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from members of the public, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the plan to end their lives.

The operator stated that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The government department clarified that the choice to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer explained that euthanasia had to be carried out compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the official stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and security responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary frequently experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.