Overview
- A resident reported seeing what appeared to be a 300-pound lioness in a blue harness walking with a smaller cub in the 10000 block of South County Road 50 West on Thursday.
- A drone operator reportedly spotted both animals in a field but authorities say the overall sighting remains unconfirmed because subsequent searches found no sign of the felines.
- State troopers and deputies from Madison and Hancock counties conducted about four hours of searching using thermal-imaging drones before ending active ground operations.
- Officers narrowed the likely area to southern Madison County or northern Hancock County and urged anyone who sees the animals to call the Madison County or Hancock County sheriff’s offices.
- Local officials treat possible escaped exotic animals as a public-safety and animal-welfare matter and note that large dogs and other animals can be misidentified, so residents should stay alert and report unusual sightings.