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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was forced to put down two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media update, the facility explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the facility’s manager.

“Although it might potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable financial backing,” the operator noted.

In a later update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were filled with comments from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the park would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The director noted that among the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request compassion and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the choice to humanely kill the big cats rested with the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer commented that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be on location to verify this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and enclosure obligations.”

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

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often ran into financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to cease operations until the habitats were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.