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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to put down two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

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

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the acquisition of the property but considerable monetary input,” the director noted.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were worsening. These choices were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator stated.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the establishment and providing for the lions. While the timeframe is limited and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing everything we can to investigate this possibility and keep hope alive.”

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

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the park would rethink the plan to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that among the sympathetic words and words of condolence, she had also received hostile and offensive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she remarked. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we appeal for kindness and decency as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The government department stated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats was the responsibility of the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A senior official explained that humane killing had to be performed ethically, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

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

The park gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon faced challenges. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly encountered economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the establishment to cease operations until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.