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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 town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment indicated that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable capital investment,” the manager explained.

In a later update, the sanctuary announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were incurable and were declining. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the operator remarked.

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 purchasing the property and providing for the lions. Even though the deadline is short and the circumstances remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to investigate this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to an alternate site was not a “viable or compassionate alternative” due to their elderly status, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were filled with comments from concerned citizens, begging for a reprieve for the surviving lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the facility would review the course of action to put them down.

The operator stated that amid the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also been subjected to threatening and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we appeal for kindness and courtesy as we handle this devastating situation.”

The proprietor refused to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to humanely kill the big cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A senior official explained that humane killing had to be conducted compassionately, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson noted. “We are confident that the establishment continues to meet its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a television show about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The facility often ran into financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors repeatedly. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the facility to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It resumed operations in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.