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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to euthanise two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment clarified that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but significant capital investment,” the director explained.

In a later statement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to pursue this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the park would rethink the decision to put them down.

The manager stated that among the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and abusive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for consideration and respect as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the choice to euthanise the cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

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

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

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

The sanctuary often ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.