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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment indicated that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the director noted.

In a recent statement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the manager stated.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or compassionate alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were filled with comments from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The operator stated that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also received threatening and insulting messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we request consideration and respect as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be conducted ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure obligations.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the park to close until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.