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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to euthanise two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The privately owned wildlife sanctuary 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 group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial capital investment,” the operator added.

In a recent statement, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and consideration,” the director said.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is tight and the situation 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 option” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from members of the public, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed desire that the facility would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The operator mentioned that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to menacing and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we request compassion and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the determination to euthanise the cats rested with the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be conducted humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the representative noted. “We are confident that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The sanctuary gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The facility repeatedly experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to cease operations until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.