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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to put down two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still unclear, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a online announcement, the facility explained that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable capital investment,” the operator added.

In a subsequent update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to investigate this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

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

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the plan to put them down.

The operator stated that amid the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and offensive messages.

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

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the determination to euthanise the lions rested with the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be carried out humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the operation continues to meet its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The sanctuary attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park often ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to shut down until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.