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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to put down two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media post, the establishment indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are deeply saddened,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the operator explained.

In a recent update, the facility announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the operator said.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in purchasing the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to pursue this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were filled with responses from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would reconsider the plan to end their lives.

The director stated that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and abusive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we appeal for consideration and decency as we handle this tragic situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to put down the cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A senior official stated that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be present to ensure this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure requirements.”

The park gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary frequently experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.