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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a online announcement, the facility explained 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 “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the director added.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the manager said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in acquiring the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or compassionate option” due to their age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed hope that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The operator noted that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and insulting messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we appeal for compassion and courtesy as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department indicated that the decision to euthanise the big cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official stated that euthanasia had to be performed ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its animal care and containment requirements.”

The park gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility frequently experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.