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

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

In a online announcement, the establishment clarified that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable monetary input,” the manager explained.

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A several interested parties have shown interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. While the deadline is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane option” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the facility would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that alongside the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to hostile and insulting comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we ask for consideration and courtesy as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to verify this is done correctly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly experienced financial trouble and staffing problems, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the park to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.