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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 fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are heartbroken,” stated the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable financial backing,” the operator added.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be put down.

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the deadline is tight and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and keep hope alive.”

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

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from the community, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the facility would rethink the decision to put them down.

The manager noted that among the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request consideration and decency as we navigate this devastating situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the decision to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the establishment continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure obligations.”

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

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility often ran into financial trouble and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.