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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media update, the facility explained that its proprietor 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 “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” stated the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable monetary input,” the director added.

In a subsequent statement, the park announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or compassionate alternative” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were filled with comments from the community, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager stated that amid the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and insulting messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we request consideration and respect as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to put down the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director explained that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the representative said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and security obligations.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility frequently experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to shut down until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.