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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media post, 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 “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but significant capital investment,” the director explained.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

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

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to end their lives.

The operator stated that alongside the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to hostile and offensive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request kindness and respect as we navigate this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the decision to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director stated that euthanasia had to be carried out compassionately, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to ensure this is done appropriately,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied 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 featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary frequently encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency directed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were improved. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.