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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to put down two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media post, the facility indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial capital investment,” the operator added.

In a subsequent statement, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. While the window is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical option” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would reconsider the plan to euthanise them.

The manager mentioned that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to menacing and abusive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to humanely kill the lions rested with the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The park achieved minor fame in the early part of the century when it featured on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility frequently ran into monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.