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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media post, the establishment clarified 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 euthanised “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are heartbroken,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial financial backing,” the director explained.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is limited and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing all we can to pursue this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from the community, begging for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed hope that the park would review the plan to end their lives.

The director noted that amid the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered hostile and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and courtesy as we handle this devastating situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the decision to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A deputy director commented that humane killing had to be carried out humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

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

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park frequently ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the establishment to shut down until the habitats were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.