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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its older 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 shut down over the weekend.

In a online update, the facility explained that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable capital investment,” the manager added.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to pursue this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from members of the public, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The director stated that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and offensive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request compassion and courtesy as we navigate this tragic situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be carried out compassionately, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The facility achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the establishment to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.