Darwin police on lookout for escaped feral lioness

Three cars pulled over while the lioness crossed the highway in front of them. Photo / Thinkstock

Authorities in Darwin are on the lookout for a feral lioness, after three reports of a big cat being spotted crossing the Stuart Highway.

The sightings about 9pm (CST) on Sunday night sparked a quick police search and a check at Crocodylus, a local wildlife park just a few minutes from the scene.

According to the NT News, three cars pulled over while the animal crossed the highway in front of them at Pinelands, a small suburb about 20km from Darwin.

"I often get reports of dingoes in the area, which are a similar colour but a completely different size," said a spokeswoman for NT Police.

Police found no trace of the creature.

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Chief scientist at Crocodylus, Charlie Manolis, told AAP he took the sightings seriously, but both lions at the park were found to be secure.

He said that "not in a gazillion years" could a lion have escaped its enclosure and then voluntarily returned and been present when checked.

Mr Manolis said because three different people had reported seeing a lion, it was likely something was roaming around.

"Whether there is a large dog or a beastie out there that looks like a lion, we would like to find out any information about what it really is," he said.

Crocodylus is the only wildlife park in the Northern Territory that houses lions.

- AAP