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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media update, the establishment indicated that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The employees and I are devastated,” said the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial monetary input,” the operator noted.

In a subsequent update, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been put down.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These decisions were made with profound consideration 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 euthanised.

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in purchasing the property and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or humane choice” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The facility’s posts were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, requesting a reprieve for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the course of action to end their lives.

The manager mentioned that alongside the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also been subjected to menacing and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we ask for compassion and decency as we navigate this devastating situation.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to humanely kill the lions rested with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official stated that putting down had to be performed ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The sanctuary repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the establishment to cease operations until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.