Reports of lions on the loose send Indiana officials on roaring search
A central Indiana resident’s report of a lioness and cub on the loose sparked a four-hour search.
FILE: Jaguar and other animals spotted on a trail camera in 2017
Video of a wild jaguar and other species in southern Arizona in 2017 (Russ McSpadden / Center for Biological Diversity)
THE TAKEAWAY
- Deputies in central Indiana responded to a report of a 300-pound lioness and a lion cub on the loose.
- Authorities say they haven't yet located the two missing exotic felines.
- Anyone who encounters a lion or cub should not approach or attempt to pet the animals, and instead call authorities.
MADISON COUNTY, Indiana – A Lion in Detroit or Cub in Chicago may not raise eyebrows, but a central Indiana resident’s report of a lioness and cub on the loose put first responders on the prowl for two big cats.
Authorities spent four hours searching central Indiana after a local resident allegedly spotted two exotic felines on the loose, but found no trace of the reported big cats.
On Thursday, the Madison County Sheriff's Department responded to reports that a local resident observed what appeared to be a 300-pound lioness with a blue collar and a smaller cub estimated at 100 to 150 pounds, before losing visual contact with the alleged exotic felines.
A lioness and cub are seen in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve — a much more natural setting for the big cats than Madison County, Indiana.
(Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)
As a result, deputies with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police spent four hours searching Green Township near the Madison-Hancock county line, about 30 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis.
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After deploying ground units, tracking physical evidence and utilizing thermal-imaging drone technology, the Madison County Sheriff said the report of the two missing felines is unconfirmed "as no law enforcement officials have witnessed anything unusual."
After an extensive four-hour search, the sheriff’s department said the report of a lioness and cub on the loose remained unconfirmed.
(Mushfiqul Alam/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
"While law enforcement has concluded the active search, residents in the area are encouraged to remain attentive and report any unusual animal sightings to local authorities immediately," the sheriff said in a press release.
Madison County is a long way from a lion’s natural habitat, so anyone who spots the reported animals should keep a safe distance and contact local authorities immediately.