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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to put down two of its older lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

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

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial monetary input,” the director added.

In a later announcement, the park verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the window is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were filled with comments from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the facility would review the plan to put them down.

The director noted that amid the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and abusive remarks.

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

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to humanely kill the lions rested with the owners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its animal care and security obligations.”

The sanctuary gained minor fame in the early part of the century when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary frequently ran into economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency directed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.