At last - a diet that works

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - This diet really works!
Koala, a female elephant in Rio de Janeiro Zoo, lost some 1,100 lb (500 kg) in about four months without any exercise after peanuts and bread were completely taken out of her diet and her ration of bananas was halved to just 120 a day.

"She had a huge rear part with excessive fat on the sides," biologist Valdir Ramos Junior told Reuters on Thursday. Koala started on the diet weighing 5 tonnes eight months ago, but lost most of the weight in the past four months, he said.

"But the diet wasn't just for the looks, as despite having very strong legs, their tendons are very sensitive ... and a lot of weight can cause tendon problems."

Koala turns 39 on Saturday. She is now eating 330 pounds (150 kg) of food per day, mostly grass, as well as vegetables and various fruit. The desirable weight for her would be 4.2 tonnes, Ramos said.