The famous Safari zoo, located in the city of San Diegohe shared a video on his official social networks showing the way a herd of African elephants reacted to the telluric movement caused by the tremor of magnitude 5.2 registered last Monday, April 14 in the state of California.
When they received the earthquake, the elephants ran to the center of the enclosure and grouped to form a circle around the younger members of the pack. Besides, According to the Zoo authoritiesthe group remained united for four minutes, since the family of placental mammals made a “Alert circle.”
“The objective of the alert circle is to protect the youngest elephants, because it allows the entire herd to observe the complete panorama of the situation and adults prepare before the possible Threats“The Zoo spokesman explained, who managed to witness the only moment in which the earthquake shook the facilities.
The recording of the security chamber captured the moment when the five African elephants were in different positions and, just a few seconds later, adults (adults (NDLULA, Khosi and Umngani) they rushed to surround the two young (Mkhaya and Zuli), in order to protect them from any danger related to the earthquake.
Elephant alert circle
“In case they don’t know, elephants have the unique ability to perceive Sounds Through its legs. That is why they reacted a few seconds before, “the park wrote in the description of the video published in its Facebook account, where the pachyderms reaction is shown and currently exceeds three million views.
“In these cases, we realized that they stay frozen while gathering information about where the danger is. This species is known for its sense of community and mutual protection, since African elephants are very social“explained the mammal curator of the San Diego Park, Mindy Albright.
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According to Albright, the African elephant is the greater terrestrial mammal which currently exists, and this species traditionally forms “family structures” led by the major females of the pack, who become the leaders responsible for making decisions for the survival of their respective groups.
“In the recording you can see how one of the youngest elephants runs directly to the center so that the Matriarchs From the pack they protect him, “added Mindy Albright, who also stressed that the only male breeding tried to remain on the periphery of the circle as a way of demonstrating his”independence and courage”
“It is wonderful to see animals do what any father or mother does, although in reality it is the way we should all act: prioritizing the protection of the children, “said the expert, who was happy for the way this natural phenomenon was received on social networks, after being recorded on video.
After reaching millions of visualizations on digital platforms, the scene occurred in the San Diego Zoo has moved thousands of people around the world, who highlight the Protection instinct and the family union of these elephants, considered one of the latest species of proboscides They still survive.
A Herd of African Elephants Instantively Formed An “Alert Circle,” Intended to Protect the Younger Elephants at The San Diego Zoo Safari Park This Morning, As at 5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Shook Southern California. pic.twitter.com/g3v6ddmz5g
– CBS News (@CBSNews) April 14, 2025