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

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment indicated that its proprietor 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 difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” said the park’s director.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but significant capital investment,” the director noted.

In a later statement, the park verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Although the window is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to pursue this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane alternative” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with comments from the community, requesting a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the park would review the decision to euthanise them.

The manager mentioned that amid the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We understand that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the determination to put down the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to ensure this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal care and security responsibilities.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early part of the century when it was shown on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The sanctuary frequently ran into financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to shut down until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.