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

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

In a social media announcement, the facility indicated 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 “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are heartbroken,” stated the facility’s manager.

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but significant financial backing,” the operator explained.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate option” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to put down the cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson said. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and security requirements.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

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

The facility repeatedly encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the park to close until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.