A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit southern California on Monday, but there were no reports of injuries or damage. The big news was actually the elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and their interesting behavior caught on camera as the earth shook. As soon as they felt the earthquake, the five elephants that live at the park formed a sort of “circle of trust.” This formation is meant to protect each other (and particularly the younger members of the herd) from danger. The video went viral.
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“Elephants have the unique ability to feel sounds through their feet and formed what is known as an ‘alert circle’ during the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that shook Southern California this morning,” wrote the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in an Instagram post sharing the footage. “This behavior, demonstrated here by Ndlula, Zuli, Mkhaya, Umngani, and Khosi, is a natural response to perceived threats that helps protect younger elephants and the herd as a whole.”
See the elephants in San Diego form a protective circle during an earthquake here: