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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was obliged to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

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

In a social media post, the establishment clarified that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the group of seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are heartbroken,” stated the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the manager noted.

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

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the establishment and maintaining care for the lions. Even though the window is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or ethical option” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from the community, pleading for a second chance for the remaining lions, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the sanctuary would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The manager mentioned that amid the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also encountered threatening and insulting messages.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We understand that emotions are high, but we appeal for consideration and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries clarified that the decision to put down the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A high-ranking officer commented that humane killing had to be conducted ethically, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An compliance official will be on location to verify this is done correctly,” the official noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment responsibilities.”

The sanctuary gained minor fame 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 keeper was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly encountered monetary difficulties and employment issues, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to shut down until the facilities were upgraded. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.