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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media announcement, the facility clarified that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the operator explained.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These choices were made with deep care and consideration,” the operator said.

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 maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to pursue this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with responses from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager noted that alongside the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also received hostile and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the decision to euthanise the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal welfare and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.