(BCN) -- An animal rights group lauded Oakland Zoo for freeing its last elephant and sending it to a sanctuary in October. In the "10 Worst Zoos for Elephants 2024" list where the organization In Defense of Animals criticized elephant treatment in zoos across North America for 2024, Oakland Zoo was praised for its "bold and compassionate precedent" in releasing the 30-year-old Osh to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Osh arrived in the sanctuary on Oct. 18, 20 years after the male African elephant was sent to Oakland Zoo from the Howletts Wild Animal Park in England, based on the website of The Elephant Sanctuary. Osh the elephant (Oakland Zoo) "This decision makes it the second U.S. zoo to publicly acknowledge that even with one of the nation's largest exhibits, it cannot provide the space far-roaming elephants need to thrive. The only other zoo to make this admission is the Detroit Zoo, when it sent its two aging elephants to sanctuary and closed its elephant exhibit in 2004," In Defense of Animals said. Baby monkey rescued from DUI driver, recovering at Oakland Zoo Insufficient space is a major cause of suffering for elephants in zoos, causing chronic mental and physical illnesses, including brain damage due to cramped conditions, the advocacy group said."While Oakland's 6-acre enclosure is among the largest in the U.S., it represents less than 1% of the smallest natural range in their home country of 2,470 acres," the group said. Osh the elephant (Oakland Zoo) In Defense of Animals hopes that with Oakland Zoo's move with Osh, other zoos will follow."One day, instead of languishing in deprived and undersized zoo exhibits, we hope all captive elephants will be free to roam, forage, and socialize in spacious sanctuaries that provide more of the freedom and richness of their natural habitats," the group said. Copyright © 2025 Bay City News, Inc.