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

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media update, the facility indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are heartbroken,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial capital investment,” the director noted.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Although the window is limited and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to pursue this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or humane option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were filled with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the park would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager mentioned that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also received hostile and abusive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request compassion and decency as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the determination to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be carried out compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the representative said. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and containment requirements.”

The park achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

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

The sanctuary frequently encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.