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Mikki and Punch Have Arrived in their New Retirement Home

After careful planning, Punch and Mikki have safely arrived to their new home at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, the nation’s largest natural-habitat refuge designed specifically for elephants.

On June 3, Punch was transported to the Sanctuary, followed by Mikki on June 4. Both elephants remained calm during transport, eating along the way. Their speciality-designed crate, along with each elephant, weighed a staggering 27,000 pounds. Transported 24 hours apart from each other, the longtime companions were reunited in The Sanctuary’s Hickory Barn and Habitat which will be their new home.

Once Mikki and Punch indicate their readiness to make new friends, and The Sanctuary staff determines it is appropriate, they will be able to interact with other elephants.

Initially, these interactions will occur through fence lines; later they will be able to explore a designated open area within the 3,000-acre Sanctuary.  This timeline and process is up to Punch and Mikki. If they do choose to make new friends, their potential herd mates and companions are three other female elephants that are similar in age: Asian female Sissy (age 57), African female Nosey (age 43), and African female Edie (age 42).

The Elephant Sanctuary Elephant Cameras

The Crossroads of Tradition and Reality

For every resident animal, we create a care plan for all stages of their life. Punch, at 55, is considered geriatric, and Mikki, at 39, is gracefully entering her senior years. With the passing of Mikki’s calf Fitz in 2023, the Zoo fell below the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) standard of three elephants for an exhibit. The move reflects the Zoo’s commitment to long-term welfare planning and quality of life for its animals.

Continuing Our Commitment

While the departure of Punch and Mikki marks a bittersweet moment for our Zoo community, their move ensures they will receive the highest standard of care and companionship in their retirement years.

We will continue to support elephant conservation and education, and guests can enjoy seeing Mikki, Punch, and their new friends via live camera feeds from the Tennessee Sanctuary.  Note that Mikki and Punch will not be on view until they are ready to join the other herds.

Questions about our elephants? Click here.

ABOUT OUR ELEPHANTS

photo - Mikki, full face, with ears fanned out, with trunk saluting high in the air, with look of here I am zoo visitorsMikki

Born: 1985 (Estimated)
Louisville Zoo Arrival:  July 28, 1987
Mikki is an African elephant that arrived at the Louisville Zoo when she was about 2 years old. She spends her time foraging in the exhibit and especially enjoys pulling the bark and leaves off of trees. Guests have even witnessed her bracing her front legs on top of Punch to grab the highest tree limbs! She also spends time digging in the clay pile in her habitat.

Elephants at the Louisville Zoo

Punch

Born:  1970 (Estimated)
Louisville Zoo Arrival:  1973
Punch arrived at the Louisville Zoo when she was about 3 years old.  Punch, though considered a geriatric elephant, is still very active and enjoys playing with her boomer ball. She will often choose to kick it with her back leg and will even chase it into the elephant pool during hot summer months.

Relocating elephants Punch and Mikki to the Elephant Sanctuary is in the best interest of their health and wellbeing as aging elephants.

  • The Elephant Sanctuary, accredited by the AZA, is the nation’s largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically to provide for elephants as they age with the companionship of a herd and individualized care.
  • Exploring relocation opportunities as Punch and Mikki enter later stages in their lives has always been part of our care plan and it is important to take advantage of this opportunity in a time when The Elephant Sanctuary is accepting animals.
  • At 55 years of age, Punch is considered a geriatric elephant, and Mikki is in her later stages of life at 39.
  • The Elephant Sanctuary will provide the highest standard of care that Punch are Mikki are accustomed to at the Louisville Zoo.

This care plan and relocation to The Elephant Sanctuary ensures the social needs of Punch and Mikki will be met for the rest of their lives.

  • Female elephants are highly gregarious,  and their social bonds and associations strengthen with time.
  • Ensuring that Punch and Mikki remain together and get the chance to live with more elephants as they enter the later stages of their lives is top priority.
  • The Elephant Sanctuary will offer Mikki and Punch the companionship of a herd.
  • Knowledge of elephants continues to expand and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) standards for their care have evolved to reflect that.

The Louisville Zoo is taking a calculated approach to relocating our elephants, while taking a strategic look at the future of
their current space.

  • The current elephant exhibit will be repurposed into a larger habitat for our another species, and may provide us the opportunity to welcome new animal species.
  • Elephant conservation connections will continue through the dedication of Zoo  conservation funding, derived from the guest admission fees and donations to help protect and preserve wild elephants.
  • The capacity to hold a bull group and a multi-generational breeding herd would be required for any future Louisville Zoo elephant exhibits.