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

The private wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

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

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are heartbroken,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial capital investment,” the director added.

In a later update, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been put down.

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

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

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to investigate this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or compassionate option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with comments from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the park would rethink the plan to put them down.

The director stated that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to hostile and abusive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body indicated that the decision to put down the cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the representative said. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early part of the century when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The park often experienced economic issues and employment issues, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.