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

The private wildlife park 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 euthanised “following a challenging decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are heartbroken,” said the park’s director.

“While it could potentially continue as a lion park under fresh proprietors, such a scenario would require not only the acquisition of the property but substantial capital investment,” the operator noted.

In a later statement, the facility announced that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had serious health conditions that were untreatable and were worsening. These decisions were made with utmost compassion and thoughtfulness,” the operator remarked.

However, there was a “glimmer of hope” for the other five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be humanely killed.

“A few individuals have shown interest in purchasing the establishment and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is tight and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to explore this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “viable or humane choice” due to their elderly status, the quantity of animals involved, and their specialized requirements.

The park’s announcements were flooded with comments from concerned citizens, pleading for a reprieve for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would reconsider the plan to end their lives.

The operator mentioned that among the kind messages and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered hostile and abusive messages.

“This is deeply distressing,” she commented. “We recognize that emotions are high, but we request kindness and respect as we handle this heartbreaking situation.”

The property owner refused to comment.

The government department clarified that the determination to humanely kill the cats lay with the landowners, and that it had been advised of the intention.

A senior official stated that humane killing had to be carried out humanely, and in compliance with animal protection legislation.

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are confident that the establishment continues to satisfy its animal care and containment requirements.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early 2000s when it was shown on a television show about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly faced challenges. In 2009, a staff member was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park often ran into monetary difficulties and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the regulatory body instructed the establishment to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It restarted in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.