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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media update, the facility explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are heartbroken,” stated the park’s director.

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the operator explained.

In a recent announcement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in buying the facility and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would review the course of action to put them down.

The operator noted that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also received hostile and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this tragic situation.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department clarified that the choice to humanely kill the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A senior official explained that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be present to verify this is done correctly,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The park attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

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

The park often encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the park to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.