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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has announced it was compelled to put down two of its elderly lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still unclear, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei closed its doors over the past weekend.

In a social media announcement, the facility explained that its proprietor 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 “after a challenging decision made by the property owner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.

“Although it might potentially continue as a lion park under different management, such a outcome would require not only the acquisition of the land but considerable capital investment,” the operator explained.

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

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had grave illnesses that were untreatable and were worsening. These actions were made with deep care and thoughtfulness,” the director remarked.

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

“A few individuals have shown interest in acquiring the facility and providing for the lions. Even though the timeframe is short and the situation remain unclear, we are doing everything we can to explore this possibility and hold onto hope.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “practical or compassionate alternative” due to their age, the number of cats involved, and their complex needs.

The sanctuary’s updates were flooded with messages from members of the public, begging for a second chance for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed desire that the facility would review the decision to euthanise them.

The manager noted that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also received hostile and abusive comments.

“This is extremely upsetting,” she said. “We understand that feelings are intense, but we ask for consideration and courtesy as we manage this heartbreaking predicament.”

The proprietor declined to comment.

The ministry for primary industries stated that the choice to euthanise the big cats was the responsibility of the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the course of action.

A senior official stated that putting down had to be performed compassionately, and in line with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be onsite to ensure this is done properly,” the spokesperson said. “We are satisfied that the operation continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and containment requirements.”

The park gained some recognition in the early 2000s when it featured on a broadcast series about a famous animal trainer.

However, it quickly ran into problems. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a white tiger while carrying out duties.

The park repeatedly ran into economic issues and employment issues, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the ministry of primary industries directed the park to cease operations until the facilities were improved. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.