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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online post, the facility clarified 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 “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial capital investment,” the operator added.

In a recent update, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the manager remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the facility and providing for the lions. Although the window is short and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from the community, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The manager mentioned that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and abusive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and courtesy as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director commented that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary often encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency directed the facility to close until the facilities were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.