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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a online announcement, 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 “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the director added.

In a later announcement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director said.

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in buying the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from members of the public, pleading for a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed hope that the park would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The director noted that alongside the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and abusive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we request kindness and decency as we manage this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the decision to humanely kill the big cats lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be conducted ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its wildlife protection and security obligations.”

The sanctuary gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the park to cease operations until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.