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

The privately owned wildlife reserve in the northern town of Whangārei ceased operations over the past weekend.

In a social media post, the establishment clarified that its proprietor had listed the land up for sale in August, and the seven lions, ranging from 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised “following a tough decision made by the property owner.”

“All possibilities were exhausted. The team and I are deeply saddened,” said the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a wildlife attraction under fresh proprietors, such a outcome would require not only the purchase of the land but significant capital investment,” the manager added.

In a later update, the facility announced that two of its lions had been humanely killed.

“Yesterday we said goodbye two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were declining. These choices were made with utmost compassion and deliberation,” the manager remarked.

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

“A handful of parties have shown interest in acquiring the property and continuing to care for the lions. Even though the deadline is limited and the circumstances remain uncertain, we are doing our utmost to pursue this possibility and keep hope alive.”

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

The facility’s posts were flooded with comments from the community, begging for a second chance for the surviving lions, while former staff members expressed optimism that the facility would reconsider the plan to put them down.

The manager noted that amid the kind messages and expressions of sympathy, she had also received hostile and offensive comments.

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

The landowner refused to comment.

The government department stated that the choice to euthanise the cats lay with the proprietors, and that it had been informed of the intention.

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

“An animal welfare inspector will be on location to confirm this is done appropriately,” the official noted. “We are confident that the operation continues to meet its animal care and enclosure obligations.”

The park gained minor fame in the early part of the century when it appeared on a television show about a famous animal trainer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was fatally attacked by a big cat while cleaning its enclosure.

The park frequently ran into economic issues and workforce challenges, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency instructed the establishment to shut down until the habitats were modernized. It resumed operations in 2021 but entered administration in 2023.