Elephants at San Diego Zoo Form "Alert Circle" During Monday's Earthquake

Elephants at San Diego Zoo Form "Alert Circle" During Monday's Earthquake

Photo: San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Elephants are intelligent and sentient animals that continue to amaze us with their actions.

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A 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook Southern California on Monday which sent the elephant herd at San Diego Zoo Safari Park to react with an "alert circle". 

The park states that elephants can "feel sounds through their feet" and immediately reacted to the earthquake by forming a protective circle known as an alert circle, or as the park called it "circle of trust". 

Screenshot: Instagram/San Diego Zoo Safari Park

The adult elephants herded the young calf into the middle of the circle and remained on alert as the ground continued to shake. 

"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," the park shared

Screenshot: Instagram/San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Viewers are amazed by how calm they seemed and how they knew exactly what to do. Talk about a great execution of an emergency plan. Everyone's heart melted when they saw the baby elephant being protected in the middle of the circle. 

The elephants returned to their normal activities after the incident but remained close together just in case. 

Check out the video shared by the park that is sure to leave you in awe of these majestic animals. Don't forget to share! 

 

 


How You Can Help Elephants

Elephants are facing many threats including loss of habitat, lack of food, and poaching. Join us in protecting and caring for elephants by donating here.

Photo: Pixabay

Greater Good Charities is committed to working with partners across the globe to save elephants from starvation, secure habitat for elephants, reduce human-elephant conflicts, and halt the ivory trade. Together, we CAN make a difference. 

Andrea Powell

Andrea Powell is an animal enthusiast who resides in West Michigan. When not writing, she is exploring the great outdoors with her dogs and horses.

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