LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For the first time in over 50 years, the Louisville Zoo doesn’t have an elephant on display. Longtime fan favorites, African elephant Mikki and Asian elephant Punch are at their new home, The Elephant Sanctuary, in Hohenwald, Tennessee.
Mikki, 39, and Punch, 55, were taken to the Sanctuary’s Hickory Barn and Habitat 24 hours apart, but the pair are back together.
According to the Louisville Zoo, once the pair show they are ready to begin new relationships and The Sanctuary staff believes it’s appropriate, the elephant pair will be able to engage with other elephants. Right now, according to the zoo, the interactions happen through a fence, later the duo will be allowed to explore a designated open area.Taking things slow, allows Punch and Mikki to build up trust and familiarity in their new environment.
Timing for integrating with the other animals at the sanctuary is up to Punch and Mikki. Their potential herd mates include three other female elephants that are about the same age: Asian female Sissy, 57 and African females Nosey, 43 and Edie, 42.
The Elephant Sanctuary is the largest natural habitat refuge for Asian and African elephants in the United States.
“Since last year’s announcement of Mikki and Punch’s departure, I have been reminding guests and staff that it’s OK to feel some sadness and profound joy at the same time,” said Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney. “Although seeing such iconic, longtime members of our Zoo family leave is hard, we know that this is the best decision for them at this stage of their lives. We will be eagerly viewing the elephant cams alongside our community watching Mikki and Punch explore the vast grounds of The Sanctuary and making new friends along the way.”
The zoo said moving the elephants to The Elephant Sanctuary reflects its commitment to the long-term planning and quality of life for its animals.
“At The Sanctuary, introductions are approached gradually and thoughtfully, with the elephants’ comfort and safety as the top priority,” said Janice Zeitlin, CEO at The Elephant Sanctuary. “Our approach supports the elephants’ ability to form lasting, meaningful relationships — if and when they choose — on their own terms.”
The Louisville Zoo said the elephant yard will be repurposed into a bigger habitat for the southern white rhinoceroses. It hopes to welcome a new okapi, a forest giraffe, into the current rhino yard.
The zoo said it would consider the potential of having elephants back in the future.
The Elephant Sanctuary is not open to visitors. Live-streaming EleCams are available online so fans can watch Mikki, Punch and other residents of The Sanctuary.
Punch came to the Louisville Zoo in 1973 and Mikki arrived in 1987. During her tenure at the zoo, Mikki gave birth to two calves: Scotty and Fitz. Both babies died.
