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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online update, the facility indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may potentially continue as a lion park under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the director explained.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the operator stated.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane choice” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from members of the public, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the facility would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The manager noted that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered hostile and insulting comments.

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

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the determination to put down the cats rested with the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

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

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the representative said. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

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

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the park to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.