The San Diego Zoo has shared footage of a herd of African elephants at its safari park shielding their young during a 5.2 magnitude earthquake.
Video footage captured the moment the ground started to shake on Monday (14 April) during the 5.2 magnitude earthquake in Southern California.
A herd of African elephants living in the safari park can then be seen instinctively forming an “alert circle” to protect the calves in the group.
The older elephants, Ndlula, Umngani, and Khosi, are shown forming a protective circle around seven-year-old calves Zuli and Mkhaya.
The San Diego Zoo said elephants “have the unique ability to feel sounds through their feet” in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“This behavior is a natural response to perceived threats to protect the herd,” it wrote.
5.2 magnitude earthquake in Southern California
Mindy Albright, a curator of mammals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, said: “It’s so great to see them doing the thing we all should be doing — that any parent does, which is protect their children.”
According to the US Geological Survey, Monday’s earthquake was centered in San Diego County but was felt as far north as Los Angeles.
No injuries or damage have been reported, as confirmed by Cal Fire San Diego.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park is currently working on the largest project in its 50-year history – Elephant Valley.
Due to be completed this year, the development is transforming the park’s elephant area into a vibrant savanna for exploration.
Guests will be surrounded by elephants on all sides, learning about the animals’ vital role as ecosystem engineers and discovering their complex social dynamics.
Images courtesy of San Diego Zoo
