A lion and a cub are possibly on the loose in central Indiana, authorities said.
Law enforcement officials conducted a four-hour search after unverified reports of a resident seeing what appeared to be a lioness wearing a blue harness and a smaller cub.
Although the search has ended, residents were told to remain alert.
300-pound lioness and cub reportedly on the loose in central Indiana https://t.co/WdFE3jj6w3 pic.twitter.com/gDN5CEmIH8
— New York Post (@nypost) August 28, 2026
Fox 59 shared further:
The Madison County Sheriff’s Department said it received a report at 10 a.m. of two large exotic cats on the loose somewhere in the 10000 block of South County Road 50 West.
A resident reportedly looked out his back window and observed an allegedly 300-pound lioness wearing a blue harness heading southwest. A smaller cub was reportedly alongside the lioness.
ADVERTISEMENTPreviously, the sheriff’s department said it also had received a report from a drone operator confirming the sighting of the animals.
The sheriff’s department could not verify the loose animals, saying no law enforcement officers have spotted the lions after a four-hour extensive search. Police used ground units and thermal drones during the search but no big cats were spotted.
Authorities said the cub was estimated to weigh between 100 and 150 pounds.
The allegedly loose felines would be somewhere in southern Madison County or northern Hancock County.
Did you see the lions? Authorities launched a search involving drones and multiple law enforcement agencies following reports Aug. 27, 2026, of a possible lioness and cub sighting in Madison and Hancock counties in Indiana. https://t.co/FJsatSfDcL pic.twitter.com/ysBJ4bkykw
— WISH-TV News (@WISHNews8) August 28, 2026
More from the New York Post:
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.
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