Residents in a region south of 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 helicopters to track what they believe is a female lion and have called on residents to stay indoors, the rbb public broadcaster reported.

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Police said veterinary specialists and hunters were also taking part in the operation to find the animal.

A police spokesman said drones were also being employed to avoid the usual search method of combing forest areas on foot where possible.

The suspected lion 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.

They said they did not know where the animal may have come from, having checked with zoos, circuses and animal shelters who all said they were not missing a lioness.

"We have deployed massive forces at the site to protect the population," a police spokesperson said.

The search for the suspected lioness is centered on the municipalities of Kleinmachnow, Teltow and Stahnsdorf at the southern edge of Berlin.

A spokeswoman for the municipality of Kleinmachnow said children at kindergartens were not being allowed into surrounding gardens and that sellers at the market had been advised not to set up stalls at present.

"This sort of thing doesn't happen every day," she said.

tj/sms (dpa, rbb, AFP)

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 20, 2023 08:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).