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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

In a online post, the establishment explained that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial financial backing,” the director noted.

In a subsequent update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the director remarked.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in purchasing the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the deadline is short and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the park would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The director mentioned that amid the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we ask for compassion and decency as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the choice to euthanise the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its animal care and security obligations.”

The park gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary often ran into financial trouble and staffing problems, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to close until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.