No DNA analysis was done, neither of the bodies or samples were kept, nothing was mounted, or no one tried to figure out where the lions came from, if they were, indeed, escapees, in the first place. Instead, the bodies were destroyed, reportedly burned.”

The fact that this occurred in Arkansas and nothing was done should explain everything! No offense to Arkansans, but with friends of mine, who live in Arkansas, they say this sounds just like what people in the hills or rural areas would do. In the first 2002 picture, can anyone make out what type of rifle that officer is carrying that is slung around his back.

Genetically, basically, there are only small differences between the African lion and the supposed extinct lions, the American, the cave, and the new subspecies of cave lion recently discovered for Siberia and North America. And guess what, cave drawings show cave lions with elementary manes (on juvenile males?).

But the Colorado incident may have little to do with maned atrox, anyway.

So the hypothesis that the (maned) Arkansas lions and the (maned) cryptid of El Paso County were panthera atrox is even more unlikely. Besides, the Arkansas lions look a bit small even for African lions, don’t they?

No DNA analysis was done, neither of the bodies or samples were kept, nothing was mounted, or no one tried to figure out where the lions came from, if they were, indeed, escapees, in the first place. Instead, the bodies were destroyed, reportedly burned.”

Such indifference regarding a couple of seriously out of place apex predators is difficult to comprehend. Two grown, male African lions [assuming that they weren't panthera atrox], are found wandering the Arkansas countryside, and nobody wants to know who, what, when, where, why?
“That something ya’ dont see every day, is it? Good work, men. Well-lets burn ‘em and bury ‘em.”

A simple lack of curiosity? Or perhaps something more sinister?