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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to put down two of its older lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media update, the establishment indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the park’s director.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the director noted.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary announced 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 not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from the community, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The operator noted that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also received menacing and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and decency as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the choice to euthanise the lions rested with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer explained that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be present to confirm this is done appropriately,” the representative said. “We are confident that the establishment continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park frequently encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.