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

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial financial backing,” the operator added.

In a later statement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the manager said.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in purchasing the facility and maintaining care for the lions. Although the window is tight and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were filled with messages from the community, pleading for a second chance for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the park would reconsider the plan to euthanise them.

The manager stated that among the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also received menacing and abusive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We understand that emotions are high, but we ask for kindness and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the determination to humanely kill the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer explained that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done properly,” the representative said. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security requirements.”

The park attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently encountered monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the establishment to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.