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A financially troubled wildlife park 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 undecided, following financial difficulties.

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

In a social media post, the facility 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 put down “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could potentially continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but significant monetary input,” the manager noted.

In a recent update, the park confirmed that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the other five lions, which the facility had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have expressed interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were filled with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to put them down.

The director noted that alongside the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered menacing and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we request consideration and respect as we manage this devastating predicament.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department clarified that the decision to humanely kill the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official commented that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be onsite to ensure this is done appropriately,” the representative noted. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it rapidly faced challenges. In 2009, a handler was killed by a white tiger while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently experienced financial trouble and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to cease operations until the enclosures were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.