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

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

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

“All possibilities were exhausted. The employees and I are devastated,” commented the sanctuary’s operator.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a big cat facility under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial monetary input,” the manager noted.

In a recent statement, the park verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These decisions were made with profound consideration and deliberation,” the director remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the facility and maintaining care for the lions. While the window is limited and the conditions remain unresolved, we are doing our utmost to explore this possibility and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or humane option” due to their age, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with responses from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the park would rethink the plan to end their lives.

The director mentioned that among the sympathetic words and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and insulting comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she commented. “We recognize that passions are strong, but we ask for compassion and courtesy as we manage this tragic predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body stated that the determination to humanely kill the lions rested with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the plan.

A senior official explained that euthanasia had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the representative stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to fulfill its animal care and enclosure requirements.”

The park gained minor fame in the early part of the century when it appeared on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was mauled to death by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often experienced economic issues and workforce challenges, and changed ownership repeatedly. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It reopened in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.