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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny 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 announcement, the facility indicated 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.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but significant monetary input,” the manager explained.

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

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the manager stated.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is short and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to pursue this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from the community, requesting a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to end their lives.

The director noted that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and decency as we manage this tragic situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to euthanise the big cats lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility often ran into financial trouble and employment issues, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.