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A financially troubled wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

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

In a online post, the facility explained that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are heartbroken,” said the facility’s manager.

“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 considerable capital investment,” the operator added.

In a recent update, the facility announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in acquiring the facility and providing for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to explore this option and maintain optimism.”

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

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from the community, requesting a stay of execution for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed desire that the park would review the course of action to put them down.

The manager noted that amid the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also received threatening and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we ask for consideration and respect as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body clarified that the decision to humanely kill the cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been informed of the plan.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson said. “We are assured that the operation continues to meet its wildlife protection and security responsibilities.”

The facility gained some recognition in the early part of the century when it featured on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was mauled to death by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the park to close until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.