The Newshound

Indiana deputies hunt for a 300-pound lioness and her cub after unconfirmed sighting near Indianapolis

Deputies and drone operators searched dense woodland and vast corn and bean fields for four hours but found no trace of the animals.
Deputies and drone operators searched dense woodland and vast corn and bean fields for four hours but found no trace of the animals.

Pendleton and surrounding communities in central Indiana were on edge Thursday after a local man reported seeing a roughly 300-pound lioness — fitted with a blue harness — and a cub moving through farm fields northeast of Indianapolis. Madison and Hancock county deputies, together with Indiana State Police, spent around four hours searching by ground and thermal-imaging drone without result; the drones briefly flagged a pig as the suspected lion.

No nearby sanctuaries have reported missing animals, and authorities are unaware of any permit in Madison County authorising lion ownership.

Formal search operations have now concluded, though residents are being asked to contact their local sheriff's department immediately if the animals are sighted.

A Facebook post from the Madison County Sheriff drew hundreds of comments, with locals joking: 'Who's playing Jumanji?' and 'Here, kitty, kitty.'

Morewrtv.comPendleton’s mane event: Town roars over reported lioness sightingfox32chicago.comLions may have been spotted in central Indiana, sheriff saysfox59.comDeputies on hunt for reported lion, cub in Hancock/Madison counties - Fox 59local12.comIndiana deputies issue statement regarding lioness, cub sighting: 'Who's playing Jumanji?'
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