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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

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

In a online post, the facility clarified 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 euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the operator noted.

In a later update, the park 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 not treatable and were declining. These decisions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the director said.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or ethical choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to end their lives.

The director mentioned that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we ask for compassion and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the decision to euthanise the lions rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to satisfy its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The park attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park frequently ran into financial trouble and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.