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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

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

In a social media update, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable financial backing,” the director explained.

In a recent announcement, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were worsening. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in purchasing the property and maintaining care for the lions. Although the window is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from members of the public, begging for a second chance for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The manager mentioned that alongside the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request consideration and decency as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the determination to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official stated that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The park attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park frequently ran into monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.