Mikki was born in the wilds of Zimbabwe, Africa in 1985. Following government-led culling operations, she was captured and brought to the United States in 1987 at approximately two years old. Since then, Mikki has lived at the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky alongside female Asian elephant Punch, who arrived at Louisville Zoo in 1973.

While at the Louisville Zoo, Mikki gave birth to two calves. The first, Scotty, was born on March 18, 2007, and passed away in May 2010 due to a bacterial infection. The second calf, Fitz, was born on August 2, 2019, and sadly passed away in June 2023 due to elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV).

In a decision aimed at providing both Mikki and Punch with more space and continued social opportunities as they age, Louisville Zoo chose to relocate the pair to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Mikki arrived at The Elephant Sanctuary on June 4, 2025, becoming the 36th elephant resident.

Standing at 8’4”, Mikki is easily recognized by her single, short visible tusk and a distinctive divot in her right ear. Mikki is known for her energetic and assertive nature, often making her presence known through confident interactions with Care Staff and fellow elephants. She is frequently seen alongside habitat companion Punch, a taller Asian female, as the two explore their shared habitat. Mikki is often observed foraging across the landscape—knocking down trees and stripping them of bark and leaves. She also engages in natural behaviors like digging and rolling in mud wallows, making full use of her home in the rolling hills of Tennessee.