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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past 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, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial monetary input,” the operator added.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be put down.

“A several interested parties have shown interest in purchasing the property and providing for the lions. While the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or compassionate option” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were filled with responses from members of the public, pleading for a reprieve for the other big cats, while past workers expressed desire that the park would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The director stated that alongside the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we navigate this tragic predicament.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department indicated that the decision to euthanise the cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be carried out humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are assured that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary often ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to close until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.