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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to euthanise two of its older lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment explained that its proprietor 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 “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable monetary input,” the director added.

In a subsequent update, the facility verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were declining. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the director 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 shown interest in acquiring the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing all we can to investigate this option and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or ethical option” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by comments from the community, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed hope that the sanctuary would review the course of action to put them down.

The director stated that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to hostile and offensive remarks.

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

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department clarified that the decision to put down the cats rested with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the course of action.

A deputy director explained that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be present to verify this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and security responsibilities.”

The facility achieved some recognition in the early part of the century when it featured on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners multiple times. In 2014, the government agency instructed the facility to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.