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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a online post, the establishment explained that its owner 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 landowner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial financial backing,” the operator noted.

In a recent statement, the park announced 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 incurable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the director remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were filled with responses from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The manager stated that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to menacing and abusive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and decency as we manage this heartbreaking situation.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and containment requirements.”

The facility attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary frequently experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the establishment to close until the facilities were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.