Lioness on Loose in Indiana: 300-Pound Big Cat and Cub Reportedly Spotted in US, Search On
A reported sighting of a 300-pound lioness wearing a blue harness and a smaller cub in central Indiana triggered a four-hour search by sheriff's deputies and state police. Authorities used ground units and thermal drones across parts of Madison and Hancock counties but found no sign of the animals. No nearby sanctuaries reported missing lions, and the sighting remains unconfirmed.
A 300-pound lioness and her cub are thought to be on the loose in central Indiana, prompting authorities to launch a massive search effort for the apex predators. The prowling pair are believed to be on the lam somewhere in northern Hancock or southern Madison counties in the Hoosier State, WXIN reported.
Around 10 a.m. Thursday, August 27, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department said it received a report of two large exotic cats on the loose on South Country Road 50 West in Jackson Township. Yellowstone National Park: Video Shows Wolf Following Tourist for 10 Minutes, Bear Spray Used To Fend It Off.
A nearby resident reportedly spotted a 300-pound lioness wearing a blue harness and a smaller cub roaming freely from his back window. The sheriff’s department said it also had received an earlier report from a drone operator confirming a sighting of the big cats.
Sheriff’s deputies and state police used ground units and thermal drones while searching for the reported mom-and-cub duo, the outlet reported. However, after a four-hour extensive search, the sheriff’s department said it could not verify that the loose lions even exist, as no law enforcement officers spotted the pair. Will the Bison That Tossed a Man Into the Air at Yellowstone National Park Be Euthanised?
No lions were reported missing from animal sanctuaries as of Thursday, according to the local outlet. The Madison County Sheriff’s Department said it is unaware of any permits within the county that allow the ownership of a lion.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 28, 2026 04:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).