TOLEDO - Lions, tigers and bears never cost this much.

        Unable to afford two koalas who are on pace to eat $44,000 worth of eucalyptus leaves this year, the Toledo Zoo has decided to return the animals to the San Diego Zoo by year's end.

        “It's a tough decision, but a fiscally responsible one,” said Dr. Randi Meyerson, the Toledo Zoo's mammal curator.

        The zoo, which has about 4,700 animals, has spent nearly one-fifth of this year's food budget on Orana, a 7-year-old mom, and her 1-year-old Alkoo.

        It also costs the zoo $22,000 a year to fly in the food, which is not grown in Ohio. Food for elephants, rhinos and hippos will cost the zoo about $23,000 this year.

        The zoo also contributes $10,000 to a koala research foundation, part of the zoo's agreement to keep koalas.

        “They're simply too expensive,” Dr. Meyerson said.

        Alleviating the feeding cost isn't possible because koalas only eat eucalyptus leaves.

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