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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media update, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had listed the land 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 property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are devastated,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable financial backing,” the manager noted.

In a subsequent update, the facility announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

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

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from members of the public, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The operator mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to menacing and offensive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for consideration and courtesy as we manage this heartbreaking predicament.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the determination to put down the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official explained that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its wildlife protection and enclosure obligations.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

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

The facility frequently ran into economic issues and employment issues, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to cease operations until the facilities were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.