In this photo obtained by the Associated Press, carcasses lay on the ground at the Muskingum County Animal Farm Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, in Zanesville, Ohio. Sheriff's deputies shot 48 animals , including 18 rare Bengal tigers and 17 lions, after Terry Thompson, owner of the private Muskingum County Animal Farm near Zanesville, threw their cages open Tuesday and then committed suicide. Thompson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and also had a bite wound on the head that appeared to have come from a large cat, such as a Bengal tiger, county Sheriff Matt Lutz said Thursday morning. (AP Photo/HO)

An Ohio zoo plans to transfer five exotic animals back to the widow of a suicidal animal owner who released dozens of wild creatures last fall.

Two leopards, two primates and a bear have been held at the Columbus zoo since October under a state-issued quarantine order, which was lifted Monday.

The zoo will return the animals to Marian Thompson on Friday.

A friend of Thompson's says the woman plans to take them to her Zanesville farm in eastern Ohio.

Thompson is the widow of Terry Thompson, who released 56 animals -- including black bears, mountain lions and Bengal tigers -- before he committed suicide.

Authorities were forced to kill 48 of the animals.

The five animals that were quarantined are the survivors.

The zoo had to euthanize one leopard.