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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media post, the facility clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of 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 team and I are devastated,” stated the park’s director.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial capital investment,” the manager added.

In a later update, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be euthanised.

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is limited and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to investigate this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical option” due to their age, the group size involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were filled with comments from members of the public, requesting a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the park would reconsider the plan to put them down.

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

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We understand that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we handle this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be present to ensure this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The park attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the establishment to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.