PENDLETON, Ind. (WISH) — A reported sighting of a lioness and her cub prompted police to conduct an hourslong search Thursday through the farm fields of Madison and Hancock counties, in areas northeast of Indianapolis.

At 10 a.m. Thursday, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about the exotic animals between Pendleton and Markleville, towns that are about a 50-minute drive northeast of downtown Indianapolis.

The news quickly spread through Pendleton, a town of about 6,000 people.

Mike Wagner, a Hancock County resident who was in Pendleton for lunch, said, “It’s not something you see every day in Indiana, and everyone was talking about it. Seems like someone would know who owns it.”

Madison and Hancock counties’ sheriff’s deputies joined Indiana State Police troopers to search the area. The lioness was reportedly wearing a blue collar.

Officers used heat-seeking drones but did not find any lions.

The possibility of a lion nearby excited and worried residents.

“It seems cool to have a lion here. We’ve never had something like this, but it also seems kinda scary because I don’t want to be chased by a lion,” said Palmer Hunt, a Pendleton High School student.

The story also gained a large online following. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page received hundreds of comments and jokes, such as “In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight,” and “Here, kitty, kitty.”

Dana Dale, a Pendleton resident, said she heard about the sightings all day at work and lives near the reported location.

Police could not confirm if the lions were actually roaming. Witnesses last saw the cats near Madison County Road 1100 South and Madison County Road 50 West, about a 10-minute drive southeast of Pendleton.

The heat-seeking drones briefly misled police when they spotted a pig instead of a lion.

Despite the false alarm, authorities were still trying to determine whether the report was legitimate.

“I really hope they find them so they’re safe,” Hunt said.

Authorities called off the search and were awaiting another lead before resuming.

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