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

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

In a social media post, the facility indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are heartbroken,” stated the park’s director.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable capital investment,” the operator explained.

In a subsequent announcement, the park announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to pursue this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from concerned citizens, requesting a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed hope that the facility would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The manager stated that amid the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and abusive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we request kindness and courtesy as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to euthanise the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the representative noted. “We are assured that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure obligations.”

The facility attained minor fame in the early part of the century when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park often ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency directed the park to close until the facilities were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.