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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

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

In a online announcement, the facility clarified that its owner 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 challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial monetary input,” the operator noted.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These actions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

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

“A several interested parties have shown interest in buying the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is tight and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or humane choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from concerned citizens, requesting a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed hope that the facility would review the decision to end their lives.

The director mentioned that amid the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered menacing and offensive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and courtesy as we manage this devastating situation.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to put down the cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer stated that euthanasia had to be carried out compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done appropriately,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary often ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the government agency instructed the establishment to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.