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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media update, the establishment 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 “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable capital investment,” the director explained.

In a later statement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane option” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from the community, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while past workers expressed hope that the facility would review the decision to euthanise them.

The director stated that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we ask for compassion and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the determination to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official stated that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the facility continues to satisfy its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the park to shut down until the habitats were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.