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

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online update, the establishment clarified 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 “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the facility’s manager.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable capital investment,” the director added.

In a subsequent update, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and consideration,” the operator stated.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the property and maintaining care for the lions. Although the window is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or compassionate choice” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The manager mentioned that amid the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive comments.

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

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director explained that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The sanctuary gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary often ran into economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to close until the habitats were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.