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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media post, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” commented the facility’s manager.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial monetary input,” the operator noted.

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

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the director said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to pursue this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or compassionate option” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were filled with messages from the community, begging for a reprieve for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed desire that the facility would review the course of action to put them down.

The manager mentioned that amid the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also received hostile and offensive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request compassion and courtesy as we manage this devastating situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer explained that humane killing had to be performed ethically, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the establishment continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure obligations.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The sanctuary frequently encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency directed the park to shut down until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.