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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to put down two of its older lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following monetary problems.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a online announcement, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “after a tough decision made by the landowner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a big cat facility under different management, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the land but significant capital investment,” the operator noted.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director stated.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unclear, we are doing all we can to pursue this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The park’s announcements were filled with comments from concerned citizens, begging for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the plan to put them down.

The manager stated that among the supportive comments and words of condolence, she had also received menacing and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we ask for kindness and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department indicated that the decision to put down the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official commented that euthanasia had to be conducted ethically, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An regulatory officer will be on location to confirm this is done properly,” the official stated. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal care and security requirements.”

The park attained some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a handler was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The park repeatedly encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the facility to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.