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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment indicated that its proprietor 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.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant financial backing,” the operator noted.

In a recent update, 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 worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to pursue this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were filled with responses from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The operator stated that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we ask for consideration and decency as we navigate this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to put down the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.