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A beleaguered wildlife park in New Zealand has stated it was forced to humanely kill two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the remaining five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a online update, 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 euthanised “after a tough decision made by the property owner.”

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

“Although it might possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but substantial financial backing,” the manager explained.

In a recent announcement, the sanctuary confirmed that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We had to part with Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were incurable and were deteriorating. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the manager said.

However, there was a “flicker of optimism” for the other five lions, which the park had previously indicated would be humanely killed.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in acquiring the establishment and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is tight 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 humane choice” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their specialized requirements.

The sanctuary’s updates were overwhelmed by responses from the community, begging for a second chance for the other big cats, while ex-employees expressed optimism that the facility would rethink the plan to end their lives.

The operator mentioned that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also received threatening and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We acknowledge that passions are strong, but we ask for kindness and decency as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The regulatory body indicated that the determination to humanely kill the lions rested with the proprietors, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A senior official commented that putting down had to be carried out compassionately, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be on location to ensure this is done properly,” the official said. “We are assured that the facility continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and enclosure responsibilities.”

The facility gained minor fame in the early 2000s when it featured on a TV program about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The park repeatedly ran into monetary difficulties and employment issues, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the government agency ordered the establishment to shut down until the habitats were upgraded. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.