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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife sanctuary in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial monetary input,” the director added.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the operator said.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be put down.

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is short and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or compassionate choice” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their demanding care.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with responses from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would rethink the plan to put them down.

The director mentioned that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered hostile and abusive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we request consideration and decency as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The government department stated that the decision to put down the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the operation continues to fulfill its animal welfare and enclosure obligations.”

The facility achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it featured on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The facility repeatedly experienced economic issues and employment issues, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries ordered the facility to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.