The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, Knoxville Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office continue the search this morning (Friday, September 11, 2020) for a reported tiger at large. The animal was originally seen by an off duty deputy late Wednesday night in the Forks of the River Industrial Park off of Island River Drive. Unconfirmed sightings came in later yesterday near Bales Lake and John Sevier Highway in East Knoxville. A humane bear trap using a rotisserie chicken as bait was set for the tiger yesterday, but was later removed. Officials say the tiger is more than likely scared and could be hiding in wooded areas near the industrial park.

Zoo Knoxville, Tiger Haven in eastern Roane County and the Little Ponderosa Zoo in Anderson County all confirmed their tigers had been accounted for.