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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to humanely kill two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

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

In a online announcement, the establishment clarified that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable monetary input,” the director explained.

In a subsequent announcement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been put down.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These decisions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or ethical choice” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with messages from the community, requesting a reprieve for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed hope that the park would review the course of action to end their lives.

The operator stated that alongside the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and offensive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we appeal for kindness and respect as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to humanely kill the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be on location to ensure this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the facility continues to meet its animal welfare and enclosure obligations.”

The sanctuary gained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often encountered monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the establishment to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.