Residents of a neighborhood near the German capital have been told to stay indoors while authorities search for what they believe is a lioness on the loose.A "loose, dangerous animal," suspected to be an escaped big cat, was reportedly sighted in a Potsdam region on the fringes of the German capital on Thursday, police said.

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Authorities are using a helicopter to track what they believe is a female lion and have called on residents to stay indoors, the rbb public broadcaster reported.

Also Read | Germany: Suspected Lioness on the Loose Outside Berlin.

What do we know so far?

Residents have reportedly received messages via warning apps. Among other things, they have been requested not to go for walks in the woods and to seek shelter in their houses or cars if they sight the animal.

Police said they had received information on the presence of the animal from witnesses who had filmed it attacking and killing a wild pig.

The search for the suspected lioness is centered on the municipality of Kleinmachnow at the southern edge of Berlin. The municipality has some 20,000 residents.

tj/sms (dpa, rbb)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 20, 2023 11:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).