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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was forced to put down two of its senior lions, with the fate of the remaining five lions still undecided, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife park in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media update, the facility explained that its owner had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are heartbroken,” commented the park’s director.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the operator explained.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These actions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the property and providing for the lions. Even though the window is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing our utmost to pursue this option and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by comments from members of the public, requesting a second chance for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed desire that the sanctuary would review the course of action to end their lives.

The operator mentioned that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and offensive messages.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for consideration and decency as we handle this heartbreaking predicament.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The ministry for primary industries indicated that the choice to humanely kill the big cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

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

“An compliance official will be onsite to verify this is done properly,” the spokesperson stated. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to satisfy its animal care and enclosure obligations.”

The sanctuary gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it was shown on a TV program about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The park repeatedly ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body ordered the facility to shut down until the habitats were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.