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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a online update, the establishment clarified 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 euthanised “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the director explained.

In a recent statement, the sanctuary 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 untreatable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

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

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “feasible or compassionate choice” due to their age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the park would rethink the course of action to end their lives.

The manager noted that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also received menacing and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we request compassion and respect as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The government department clarified that the determination to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be conducted compassionately, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The park gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.