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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a online post, the establishment clarified that its proprietor 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 property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are devastated,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but significant monetary input,” the manager added.

In a later update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the deadline is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from members of the public, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the park would reconsider the course of action to euthanise them.

The director stated that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request kindness and decency as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the decision to euthanise the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to confirm this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal welfare and containment obligations.”

The facility attained some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.