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A struggling wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

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

In a online post, the facility clarified 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 euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are devastated,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

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

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

“We had to part with two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were untreatable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager said.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the sanctuary had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or compassionate option” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were overwhelmed by responses from the community, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while past workers expressed desire that the park would rethink the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and abusive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that emotions are high, but we appeal for compassion and respect as we navigate this devastating circumstance.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the choice to humanely kill the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A deputy director explained that humane killing had to be carried out compassionately, and in accordance with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done appropriately,” the official stated. “We are confident that the operation continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park attained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it was shown on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to shut down until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.