3 weeks Ago By Ben J. Costas
When a 5.2 magnitude earthquake rattled Southern California yesterday, a group of African elephants at San Diego Zoo Safari Park demonstrated their instincts to protect the youngest members of their herd. The seismic event, which caused a stir from San Diego to Los Angeles, was met with a remarkable response from the elephants, who quickly formed what's known as an "alert circle" to shield their calves from potential danger.
According to a social media post from San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the elephants used their unique ability to feel sound through their feet. They immediately encircled the younger animals in a protective embrace. View this post on Instagram A post shared by San Diego Zoo Safari Park (@sdzsafaripark)Footage from the enclosure captured the elephants, Ndlula, Zuli, Mkhaya, Umngani, and Khosi, enjoying the morning sun before springing into action once the tremors hit.
Despite initially running in different directions, the older elephants hastily corralled the two 7-year-old calves within the safety of their circle. "They sort of freeze as they gather information about where the danger is," Mindy Albright, a curator of mammals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, told ABC7 in an interview detailing the elephants' behavior.While unsettling for many, the natural disaster resulted in no injuries or severe damage across the affected regions.
However, it was certainly a source of anxiety for the elephants. Post-quake, the adult elephants remained vigilant with flattened ears, forming a barrier with their considerable mass and keen senses. As per ABC7, Albright admired the elephants' instinctual protective behavior, likening it to any attentive parent guarding their offspring.
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