Indiana lion sighting report ends with no animals found
A four-hour search in the Madison-Hancock county area found no lioness or cub, and authorities say the report remains unconfirmed.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
An Indiana lion sighting report sent deputies and state police into a four-hour search near the Madison-Hancock county line, but officers found no animals and have not confirmed that any lions were loose.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Department responded at about 10 a.m. after a resident reported seeing two large exotic felines near the 10000 block of South County Road 50 West, according to Fox59.
The resident told deputies they had seen what appeared to be a lioness weighing about 300 pounds and wearing a blue harness, alongside a smaller animal described as a cub. The animals were reportedly moving southwest before they disappeared from view, the sheriff’s department said, as reported by UPI and Fox59.
Were the reported lions in Indiana found?
No. Deputies from Madison and Hancock counties joined the Indiana State Police in searching the area for roughly four hours, UPI and WKRC reported. Ground teams and thermal-imaging drones were used, but no officer located a large feline or saw evidence that verified the report.
That distinction is the key one: authorities investigated a resident’s report of animals that resembled a lioness and cub, rather than confirming an escape or a lion sighting. The active search has since ended, officials said.
Local reporting also said a drone operator had told the sheriff’s department they had spotted an adult lion and cub in a field. But the sheriff’s department did not verify the animals after its own search, according to WGN and Fox59.
Where did deputies search?
The reported location was in the southern part of Madison County, near northern Hancock County. Authorities focused on the area around South County Road 50 West after the initial call, Fox59 reported.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Department asked people in the area to stay alert and promptly report unusual animal sightings to local law enforcement. Residents who believe they spot either animal were directed to contact the Madison or Hancock county sheriff’s department, according to Fox59 and WGN.
Officials had received no reports that lions were missing from area zoos or sanctuaries, UPI reported. The sheriff’s department also said it was unaware of anyone in Madison County holding a permit to keep a lion privately.
- Current status: No lioness or cub was found or confirmed.
- Search response: Madison and Hancock county deputies and Indiana State Police searched for about four hours.
- Public advice: Report unusual animal sightings to local authorities.
This story draws on original reporting from UPI.