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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility explained that its owner 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 property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable monetary input,” the manager added.

In a subsequent announcement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These choices 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 earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or humane option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The manager noted that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and abusive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we manage this devastating situation.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the determination to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official explained that humane killing had to be carried out compassionately, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the official noted. “We are confident that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

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

The sanctuary often encountered financial trouble and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to cease operations until the facilities were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.