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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly 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 social media announcement, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Although it might possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the operator noted.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the operator stated.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with comments from members of the public, requesting a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received menacing and insulting remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and courtesy as we manage this tragic circumstance.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department clarified that the determination to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure obligations.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often experienced monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to shut down until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.