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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online post, the facility explained 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.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” stated the facility’s manager.

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but significant monetary input,” the director explained.

In a subsequent announcement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to investigate this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or humane alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by messages from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to put them down.

The manager noted that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and offensive comments.

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

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the determination to put down the cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.