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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media announcement, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” stated the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial monetary input,” the manager added.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator said.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane option” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from members of the public, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that alongside the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to threatening and abusive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and respect as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to euthanise the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the representative said. “We are confident that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal welfare and containment requirements.”

The park gained some recognition in the early part of the century when it featured on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary frequently ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the park to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.