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

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

In a online announcement, the facility explained that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are heartbroken,” commented the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but significant capital investment,” the manager explained.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These decisions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the director stated.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. While the window is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request compassion and courtesy as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The government department indicated that the decision to humanely kill the cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A senior official stated that euthanasia had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary often encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the establishment to close until the facilities were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.