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

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online post, the facility indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are heartbroken,” commented the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable financial backing,” the manager explained.

In a recent announcement, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in purchasing the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from members of the public, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to put them down.

The director noted that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also received threatening and insulting comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request consideration and decency as we manage this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the decision to euthanise the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the operation continues to meet its animal care and security obligations.”

The sanctuary achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to close until the habitats were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.