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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to euthanise two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media update, the establishment indicated 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 put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable capital investment,” the operator added.

In a later update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in buying the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or compassionate choice” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from the community, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The operator mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and respect as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to put down the big cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that euthanasia had to be conducted ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the park to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.