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

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a social media post, the facility clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are heartbroken,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but significant monetary input,” the director explained.

In a later update, the facility announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the window is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to investigate this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or compassionate choice” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from the community, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the facility would review the decision to end their lives.

The manager stated that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and abusive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we navigate this devastating circumstance.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries 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 stated that euthanasia had to be carried out ethically, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly ran into problems. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The facility repeatedly ran into economic issues and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the park to close until the enclosures were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.