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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

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

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are heartbroken,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable monetary input,” the operator noted.

In a later update, the facility confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the property and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this possibility and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate choice” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the park would review the plan to end their lives.

The operator noted that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to hostile and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we appeal for kindness and decency as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the determination to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official stated that humane killing had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to verify this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The sanctuary repeatedly encountered economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.