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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility clarified 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 challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but significant financial backing,” the manager added.

In a subsequent announcement, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the director remarked.

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

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and maintain optimism.”

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

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the other big cats, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The operator mentioned that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received threatening and insulting remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and respect as we manage this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the choice to humanely kill the lions was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official stated that euthanasia had to be performed compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be on location to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal care and enclosure obligations.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to cease operations until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.