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

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the operator explained.

In a recent announcement, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing all we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or ethical option” 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 reprieve for the other big cats, while past workers expressed hope that the facility would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The operator mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to threatening and abusive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we appeal for consideration and decency as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to euthanise the lions was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A deputy director explained that euthanasia had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to confirm this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The sanctuary achieved some recognition 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 handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility frequently experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.