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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to euthanise two of its older lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the facility explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Even though it may potentially continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial financial backing,” the director added.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from members of the public, begging for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the park would rethink the decision to put them down.

The manager noted that amid the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we ask for compassion and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the decision to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director commented that humane killing had to be carried out ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the representative said. “We are assured that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal welfare and enclosure obligations.”

The facility achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it was shown on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a handler was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly experienced financial trouble and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries instructed the park to shut down until the enclosures were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.