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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to put down two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment clarified 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 put down “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” commented the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the director explained.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with profound consideration and consideration,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or ethical alternative” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were filled with responses from the community, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would reconsider the decision to put them down.

The operator noted that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and offensive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we ask for kindness and decency as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the decision to humanely kill the lions rested with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security responsibilities.”

The park attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the facility to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.