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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a online post, the establishment explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but significant financial backing,” the operator explained.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane choice” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from the community, requesting a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the facility would review the plan to end their lives.

The operator mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We understand that emotions are high, but we ask for compassion and respect as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the determination to humanely kill the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A high-ranking officer explained that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be present to confirm this is done properly,” the spokesperson said. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and containment responsibilities.”

The park gained some recognition in the early part of the century when it featured on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly experienced financial trouble and employment issues, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the facility to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.