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

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a online announcement, 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 “after a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

“There were no real options left. The staff and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial monetary input,” the operator added.

In a later statement, the park verified that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the facility had previously indicated would be put down.

“A several interested parties have expressed interest in purchasing the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the window is short and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or humane choice” due to their elderly status, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were filled with messages from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the surviving lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would review the course of action to put them down.

The operator mentioned that alongside the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to hostile and insulting remarks.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she commented. “We understand that passions are strong, but we appeal for consideration and courtesy as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor chose not to respond.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to humanely kill the cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its animal care and security responsibilities.”

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

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the government agency directed the establishment to close until the facilities were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.