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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining 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 announcement, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are devastated,” commented the park’s director.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable capital investment,” the director added.

In a later announcement, the park announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the director remarked.

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to pursue this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were filled with messages from the community, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the facility would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The manager stated that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we ask for compassion and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the decision to put down the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official stated that humane killing had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and employment issues, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.