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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a online post, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the director explained.

In a later announcement, the park 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 untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director said.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to pursue this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or ethical choice” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from members of the public, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the park would reconsider the decision to end their lives.

The operator noted that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to menacing and offensive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request compassion and courtesy as we navigate this tragic situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are assured that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and security requirements.”

The park attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency directed the park to close until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.