LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

The Louisville Zoo's beloved elephants have a new home.

African elephant Mickey (Mikki) and Asian elephant Punch have retired.

They are now living at a 3,000-acre sanctuary for elephants in Tennessee.

"Their wellness and well-being is at a really important part of what we do. And we want to make sure that we give these creatures and provide them the best we can," said Louisville Zoo director Dan Maloney. "You can feel some sadness that they've left us, but also profound joy that they're now going to have a home where they have much more space than we could ever provide."

The zoo's elephant yard will be repurposed into a bigger habitat for the southern white rhinoceros.

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