Columbus zoo returns surviving exotic animals to widow

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - By ANN SANNER, Associated Press

An Ohio zoo has returned five surviving exotic animals to a woman whose husband released dozens of wild creatures last fall before he committed suicide.

Marian Thompson retrieved her two leopards, two primates and a bear from the Columbus zoo on Friday. One spotted leopard that was also sent there had to be euthanized.

The animals have been held at the zoo since October. That's when Thompson's husband released 56 exotic animals from their Zanesville farm in eastern Ohio before killing himself. Authorities were forced to shoot 48 creatures.

Thompson had previously tried to get the animals back, but a state-issued quarantine was placed on them.

Ohio's agriculture director lifted the order on Monday. Medical results released last week showed all five animals are free of dangerous or infectious diseases.

USDA inspectors are following the horse trailer as it leaves the zoo.