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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a online post, the establishment clarified 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 challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are heartbroken,” said the park’s director.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but significant capital investment,” the operator added.

In a subsequent statement, the park verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or ethical option” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while past workers expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the decision to end their lives.

The manager noted that among the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also received menacing and offensive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request consideration and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The government department clarified that the determination to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be carried out compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the representative noted. “We are confident that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park attained minor fame in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the park to close until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.