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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

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

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial financial backing,” the manager explained.

In a later statement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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 expressed interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is limited and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to end their lives.

The director noted that among the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for consideration and decency as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to put down the big cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A deputy director explained that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The facility attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to close until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.