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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to put down two of its senior lions, with the fate of the other five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei closed its doors over the weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment clarified that its owner 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.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are heartbroken,” stated the park’s director.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial capital investment,” the manager explained.

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

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A few individuals have expressed interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the window is short and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing everything we can to explore this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “feasible or ethical alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were flooded with messages from concerned citizens, pleading for a second chance for the other big cats, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to end their lives.

The director stated that amid the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received threatening and abusive remarks.

“This is deeply distressing,” she remarked. “We recognize that feelings are intense, but we ask for consideration and courtesy as we navigate this devastating predicament.”

The property owner declined to comment.

The government department indicated that the choice to put down the big cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director explained that euthanasia had to be performed ethically, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are satisfied that the facility continues to fulfill its animal welfare and security obligations.”

The sanctuary attained some recognition in the early part of the century when it was shown on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The park repeatedly encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the park to shut down until the facilities were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.