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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment explained 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 put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are heartbroken,” stated the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial capital investment,” the director explained.

In a recent announcement, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in purchasing the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from concerned citizens, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to euthanise them.

The manager stated that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and insulting messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request compassion and courtesy as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department clarified that the determination to put down the lions rested with the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done properly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The facility gained some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency instructed the establishment to shut down until the facilities were improved. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.