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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to euthanise two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media post, the facility explained that its owner 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 “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the operator explained.

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

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the operator said.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in buying the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is limited and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to pursue this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or compassionate alternative” due to their age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the facility would rethink the course of action to euthanise them.

The director noted that among the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also received menacing and abusive messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and decency as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to humanely kill the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to verify this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The facility achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the government agency ordered the park to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.