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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to put down two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

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

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

“No viable alternatives remained. The staff and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable financial backing,” the operator added.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were worsening. These choices were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the manager stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to investigate this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and abusive remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for consideration and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to put down the lions was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be conducted ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The facility repeatedly experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.