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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

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

In a online announcement, the facility clarified that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are devastated,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the operator added.

In a later update, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the operator stated.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Although the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from members of the public, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the park would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The director mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we handle this tragic situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the determination to put down the lions rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official explained that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its wildlife protection and enclosure obligations.”

The park gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.