Stolen San Francisco Koalas Found

S A N   F R A N C I S C O, Dec. 28 -- Two rare koalas described as “the cutest things you have ever seen” and stolen from the San Francisco Zoo have been found unharmed.

Leanne, 7, and her mother, Pat, 15, were found in a house in south San Francisco, running around a hallway scattered with koala droppings. Police said they went to the house after receiving an anonymous tip from a woman at about 1 a.m. today.

“We’re extremely happy and relieved that the koalas are back,” zoo Deputy Director John Mann said.

Police said they had no problems getting into the home. When they got to the door, officers said they could see the koalas playing in the hall.

“The officers were able to see the missing koalas, and they convinced the residents [of] the urgency and the welfare of the koalas. They were able to convince them to let them [come] in and rescue the koalas,” said Inspector Lou Bronfeld of the San Francisco Police Department.

The koalas are being examined by veterinarians, but seem healthy and happy, zoo officials said.

Teens Arrested

Authorities arrested two teen-agers tonight, accusing them of stealing the pair of koalas from the SanFrancisco Zoo to show off to their girlfriends.

“They wanted to give them to their lady friends to impressthem,” police spokesman Jim Deignan said.

Police said the teens are charged with burglary, possession ofstolen property and grand theft. They said profit was not themotive, despite each animals’ estimated value of more than $10,000.

Neither teen-ager was immediately identified.

Police said the koalas were apparently stolen after someone broke through a skylight and climbed into the animals’ indoor quarters through a furnace door late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.

High-Maintenance Animals

Officials had feared for the survival of the koalas, who are very high-maintenance animals, said the zoo’s general curator, David Robinett.

Pat has several medical problems, including a potentially cancerous mass and an infected eye.