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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was obliged to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media announcement, the establishment clarified that its owner had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable capital investment,” the manager noted.

In a later update, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were declining. These decisions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Although the window is tight and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to investigate this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or humane choice” due to their advanced age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by messages from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while past workers expressed hope that the park would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The operator mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and abusive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request kindness and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The landowner declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the decision to euthanise the cats lay with the owners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A high-ranking officer commented that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in line with wildlife regulations.

“An animal welfare inspector will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the facility continues to satisfy its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a big cat while carrying out duties.

The facility frequently encountered monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the park to cease operations until the enclosures were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.