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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment clarified that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are heartbroken,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but significant monetary input,” the manager noted.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. Although the deadline is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, requesting a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to end their lives.

The operator mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered hostile and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request compassion and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The government department clarified that the decision to humanely kill the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be conducted compassionately, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility often ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the establishment to close until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.