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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was obliged to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the outcome of the remaining five lions still unclear, following financial difficulties.

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

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

“There were no real options left. The employees and I are deeply saddened,” said the sanctuary’s operator.

“Although it might possibly continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but substantial financial backing,” the director added.

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

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These actions were made with deep care and deliberation,” the manager said.

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

“A few individuals have indicated willingness in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. While the deadline is limited and the situation remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to pursue this opportunity and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “practical or humane alternative” due to their age, the group size involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from the community, requesting a reprieve for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed desire that the sanctuary would reconsider the decision to euthanise them.

The director mentioned that among the kind messages and words of condolence, she had also encountered hostile and abusive comments.

“This is deeply distressing,” she said. “We understand that passions are strong, but we request compassion and respect as we handle this tragic circumstance.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the choice to euthanise the lions lay with the landowners, and that it had been notified of the course of action.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be conducted humanely, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be present to confirm this is done appropriately,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and containment obligations.”

The sanctuary attained a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it appeared on a TV program about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The facility repeatedly experienced economic issues and staffing problems, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to close until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.