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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has revealed it was compelled to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the fate of the other five lions still uncertain, following economic struggles.

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

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

“There were no real options left. The team and I are deeply saddened,” stated the facility’s manager.

“Although it might potentially continue as a big cat facility under new ownership, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but substantial monetary input,” the manager noted.

In a recent announcement, the facility verified 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 not treatable and were worsening. These choices were made with profound consideration and thoughtfulness,” the director stated.

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

“A several interested parties have indicated willingness in buying the property and continuing to care for the lions. Although the timeframe is short and the situation remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to investigate this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

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

The facility’s posts were flooded with responses from the community, begging for a stay of execution for the other big cats, while former staff members expressed hope that the facility would reconsider the course of action to euthanise them.

The manager mentioned that among the supportive comments and messages of sorrow, she had also been subjected to hostile and offensive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We understand that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and courtesy as we navigate this heartbreaking predicament.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The government department indicated that the choice to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the owners, and that it had been notified of the plan.

A high-ranking officer explained that humane killing had to be conducted humanely, and in compliance with animal welfare law.

“An compliance official will be on location to confirm this is done correctly,” the official said. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to meet its animal care and enclosure responsibilities.”

The park attained minor fame in the early 2000s when it was shown on a broadcast series about a celebrity big cat handler.

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

The facility frequently ran into economic issues and staffing problems, and switched proprietors multiple times. In 2014, the regulatory body directed the establishment to cease operations until the enclosures were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but went into liquidation in 2023.