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

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the weekend.

In a online post, the establishment 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 “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under different management, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the operator explained.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in purchasing the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would review the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that alongside the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to hostile and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we request compassion and courtesy as we manage this devastating circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to put down the lions rested with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A senior official stated that euthanasia had to be carried out humanely, and in accordance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its animal care and security responsibilities.”

The park attained some recognition in the early part of the century when it appeared on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to shut down until the habitats were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.