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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a online update, the establishment explained 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 “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are heartbroken,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the director explained.

In a recent statement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would review the decision to end their lives.

The director stated that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request kindness and respect as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the decision to put down the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and containment requirements.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the park to cease operations until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.