2 zebras shipped to New Brunswick after turf war at Saskatoon zoo

It's not all black and white between the five zebras that have called Forestry Farm Park and Zoo in Saskatoon their home for the past year.

Zebra turf wars have led to two of them embarking on what the zoo calls "a new adventure" — which involves a move across the country.

After being paired separately from the rest of the herd since last fall due to a medical issue, the two zebras — Koffee and LeeLoo, a gelding and a female — became a bonded pair, and they weren't horsing around.

The zoo decided not to reintroduce them to the rest of the herd.

"Zebra males can become very territorial, especially within a herd setting," zoo manager Jeff Mitchell said in a Tuesday news release.

Earlier this week, the two zebras were moved to Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton, N.B., which, like the Saskatoon municipal zoo, has accreditation through Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums, or CAZA, a charitable advocacy and accreditation organization.

"While we are sad to see Koffee and LeeLoo go, we are confident the decision to relocate the pair to another CAZA-accredited facility is the best outcome for the zebras," Mitchell said in the zoo's news release.

The zoo's other three zebras — Marty, Missy and Shadow — will remain in Saskatoon. 

Provincial conservation officers had seized the five equines from a rural location last June.

The province had also kicked in some extra cash for the zoo — committing $120,000 to provide care and maintenance for the animals last summer.

Native to southern and eastern Africa, zebras are not used to the harsh winter conditions Saskatchewan has to offer, and can only handle weather down to about –5 C, Mitchell said in a previous interview. 

The zebras received a special diet and a heated barn for the winter months.