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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a online update, the establishment explained that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are heartbroken,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the manager explained.

In a recent update, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or humane choice” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by messages from members of the public, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The director mentioned that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and offensive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we request compassion and courtesy as we handle this devastating predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the decision to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be conducted compassionately, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The park achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the park to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.