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

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the facility clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable capital investment,” the operator added.

In a later statement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the manager remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is tight and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to pursue this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or compassionate option” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to put them down.

The manager stated that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for kindness and decency as we handle this tragic situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to euthanise the cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official stated that euthanasia had to be conducted ethically, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done properly,” the spokesperson said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to meet its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The facility gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

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

The park often encountered monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to shut down until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.