Louisville Zoo elephants Mikki and Punch retiring to sanctuary in Tennessee

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville Zoo said Thursday it will relocate elephants Mikki and Punch to The Elephant Sanctuary, a 3,000-acre facility in Hohenwald, Tennessee, the nation's largest natural habitat for elephant refugees.

Mikki is an African elephant that has been at the zoo since 1987. She gave birth to two male calves, Scotty and Fitz, while at the Louisville Zoo.

"The gap continues to widen between what we can realistically provide our aging elephants and our evolved understanding of their geriatric needs," Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney said in a news release Thursday. "We have reached the point where it is imperative that we secure a place for Mikki and Punch where they can retire together."

Punch is an Asian elephant that has been at the zoo since 1973.

Both of the elephants have reached an age where they require different attention and care in their daily life.

"It was a hard decision, and we love Mikki and Punch dearly," Mahoney said Thursday. "But they are still at the age where they can travel well."

The relocation of the elephants will allow them to have a lifelong companionship in a safe and expansive area.

"It's going to be sad to see them go," said Tristen Figg, who was visiting the zoo Thursday. "I love elephants."

The zoo team has started the process of acclimating the two into the transportation process and said they will continue to share regular updates about the duo in their new home.

"It will be sad to not see them there but it will nice to know that they are going to some place where they have more room and it will be better for them," said Amber Henwood, who was visiting the zoo Thursday.

The Louisville Zoo anticipates the move with occur sometime in the spring of 2025.

As for the current enclosure they are in, the zoo plans to repurpose it for the zoo’s southern white rhinoceroses: 40-year-old female Sindi and 9-year-old male Letterman.

There are more big changes coming to the zoo too, including an expansion with walking trails and a water feature for kayaking, as well as the return of wild lights and even the zoo train.

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