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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to put down two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

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

In a online update, the facility clarified 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 euthanised “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are devastated,” commented the facility’s manager.

“While it could potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the operator noted.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were declining. These actions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. While the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or ethical alternative” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from members of the public, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the park would rethink the plan to end their lives.

The operator mentioned that alongside the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we appeal for kindness and decency as we manage this tragic circumstance.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the determination to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer explained that euthanasia had to be conducted ethically, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to ensure this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and containment obligations.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often ran into monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency directed the facility to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.