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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the facility explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The staff and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.

“Although it might possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant capital investment,” the operator noted.

In a recent update, the sanctuary announced 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 worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the remaining five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from the community, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The director stated that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and offensive messages.

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

The landowner chose not to respond.

The government department clarified that the choice to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer explained that humane killing had to be carried out compassionately, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the operation continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure responsibilities.”

The facility achieved some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility often ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the facility to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.