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Wild rumors about lions escaping from a zoo or circus and roaming free in Nashville and Indianapolis have caused some people to panic and others to snicker, but the truth is much less exciting or terrifying, according to authorities. Lions are not on the loose in those cities, despite viral posts on social media and prank calls to emergency services.
The misleading reports started on July 20, when a few Facebook users shared photos of a lion, claiming to have spotted it in Nashville, Tennessee. The images showed a large feline walking beside a highway, near a sign that said “Nashville Zoo”. Some of the captions suggested that the lion had escaped from the zoo, which prompted many commenters to express concern and speculate about the danger it posed to humans.
However, the Nashville Zoo clarified that none of its 31 African lions were missing or unaccounted for, and that the pictures were taken by a driver who saw the lions inside their enclosure, through a fence, and then edited them to make it look like the animal was outside. The zoo also noted that it had multiple layers of security and safety protocols in place to prevent any escape or intrusion, and that it regularly conducted drills and tests with local authorities to ensure its readiness.
“We appreciate the public’s interest in our magnificent felines, but we want to assure everyone that the lions are exactly where they’re supposed to be, and that our staff is highly trained and dedicated to their welfare,” said Heather Robertson, the Zoo’s Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. “We urge people to verify their sources and not spread unverified or sensationalized information, which can cause unnecessary fear and confusion.”
Despite the zoo’s clarification, the lion rumors spread like wildfire on social media, spawning multiple fake accounts and pages that claimed to offer updates and sightings of the “Nashville lion”. Some even created memes and jokes about the supposed escape, such as “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my… Where’s Dorothy when we need her?” or “Breaking news: Tennessee becomes new lion-themed state.”
Meanwhile, a similar prank occurred in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 21, when an anonymous caller claimed to have seen a lion near the Indiana State Fairgrounds and warned the police. The authorities responded with multiple patrol cars, a helicopter, and a thermal imaging device, but found nothing. They later traced the call to a phone booth outside a convenience store and concluded that it was a hoax. However, the incident also sparked some concerns and rumors on social media, especially after the Nashville reports.
“We take all calls seriously and respond accordingly, but we also investigate them thoroughly and caution people not to spread unsubstantiated or false information,” said Officer Genae Cook, a spokeswoman for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. “We have no reason to believe that there is any threat to public safety or that there is indeed a lion on the loose in our city.”
Although the lion rumors may have provided some entertainment or distraction for some people, they also highlighted the power and pitfalls of social media and the importance of critical thinking and fact-checking in the age of viral content. Lions are majestic creatures, but they are not roaming free in Nashville or Indianapolis, no matter how many likes or shares their fake sightings receive.
