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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to put down two of its older lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media announcement, the establishment clarified 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 euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial financial backing,” the manager explained.

In a later statement, the facility verified that two of its lions had been put down.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were declining. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in buying the property and providing for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate option” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would reconsider the decision to end their lives.

The operator stated that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we request compassion and courtesy as we manage this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A high-ranking officer stated that putting down had to be conducted ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to verify this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its animal care and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary achieved minor fame in the early part of the century when it appeared on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park often ran into economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to cease operations until the habitats were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.