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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media update, the establishment 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 difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the park’s director.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial capital investment,” the operator noted.

In a recent announcement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to pursue this option and keep hope alive.”

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

The park’s announcements were filled with responses from the community, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would review the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that amid the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered menacing and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and decency as we manage this tragic situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to put down the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A deputy director explained that humane killing had to be performed ethically, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the operation continues to meet its animal care and containment requirements.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary frequently encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the establishment to close until the enclosures were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.