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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment explained that its proprietor had put the property 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 team and I are deeply saddened,” said the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial financial backing,” the director added.

In a later announcement, the park verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were declining. These choices were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical option” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the plan to put them down.

The manager noted that alongside the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We understand that emotions are high, but we appeal for consideration and decency as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

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

A senior official explained that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to satisfy its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The facility attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility often ran into financial trouble and employment issues, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.