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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media update, the facility explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable monetary input,” the manager added.

In a later announcement, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or compassionate option” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from members of the public, begging for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would review the course of action to put them down.

The director noted that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The landowner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official stated that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to confirm this is done appropriately,” the representative said. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and containment obligations.”

The park gained minor fame in the early part of the century when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The facility frequently experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.