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A struggling wildlife park in New Zealand has announced it was forced to humanely kill two of its elderly lions, with the outcome of the other five lions still uncertain, following financial difficulties.

The private wildlife reserve in the northern city of Whangārei shut down over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the facility clarified that its proprietor had put the property 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 landowner.”

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

“While it could possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a future would require not only the purchase of the property but considerable financial backing,” the manager explained.

In a later statement, the park announced that two of its lions had been put down.

“Yesterday we said goodbye Imvula and Sibili, both of whom had significant medical issues that were incurable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with deep care and consideration,” the operator remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have indicated willingness in buying the property and providing for the lions. Even though the window is limited and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to investigate this opportunity and keep hope alive.”

Relocating the lions to a different location was not a “practical or humane choice” due to their advanced age, the group size involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were filled with messages from concerned citizens, requesting a second chance for the remaining lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would reconsider the course of action to put them down.

The operator mentioned that among the sympathetic words and messages of sorrow, she had also encountered threatening and offensive remarks.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she said. “We acknowledge that feelings are intense, but we ask for kindness and courtesy as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The landowner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to humanely kill the lions lay with the owners, and that it had been notified of the intention.

A deputy director commented that putting down had to be carried out ethically, and in line with animal welfare law.

“An regulatory officer will be present to confirm this is done correctly,” the spokesperson noted. “We are satisfied that the establishment continues to satisfy its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

The park achieved a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it appeared on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it quickly encountered difficulties. In 2009, a staff member was killed by a white tiger while performing maintenance.

The facility repeatedly encountered financial trouble and workforce challenges, and switched proprietors on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the facility to close until the habitats were modernized. It reopened in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.