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A struggling 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 unclear, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online update, the establishment indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are deeply saddened,” stated the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the operator noted.

In a recent update, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the director said.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in purchasing the property and maintaining care for the lions. While the timeframe is short and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or compassionate choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by comments from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and offensive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we request compassion and decency as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the determination to put down the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be conducted ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety 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 staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The sanctuary frequently encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to close until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.