A video published by the Safari Park of the San Diego Zoo shows the impressive reaction of African elephants after the earthquake that hit Southern California on Monday. The earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.2, caused issues in several areas, including the zoo’s facilities.
Immediately after feeling the tremors, the elephants gathered around their calf in a formation known as the “alarm circle” – a protective behavior aimed at securing the young and ensuring the safety of the entire herd. In the filmed footage, the elephants can be seen instinctively positioning themselves around the calf, creating a living shield to face any potential threats.
Zoo officials stated that this behavior is entirely natural and demonstrates the strong sense of cooperation and protection that exists within an elephant herd. After a few minutes, when the situation calmed down, the elephants returned to their usual behavior.