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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media 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 euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the operator added.

In a subsequent announcement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These actions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Although the deadline is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or humane choice” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to put them down.

The manager noted that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We understand that emotions are high, but we appeal for consideration and decency as we handle this tragic situation.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to humanely kill the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer explained that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security obligations.”

The sanctuary achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the facility to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.