Elephants Create Protective ‘Alert Circle’ for Young Ones During Earthquake at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

As the ground shook at around 10 a.m. on Monday, elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park demonstrated a remarkable instinct. They quickly formed an “alert circle” around their young, showcasing their strong protective behavior. Mindy Albright, the zoo’s curator of mammals, explained that this circle is a common defense mechanism elephants use in the wild to shield their calves from threats.

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit Southern California, causing tremors felt throughout the region. The elephants instinctively moved to protect the juveniles, demonstrating coordination and unity. “It was really neat to see them come together as a herd,” Albright remarked. “They paused to gather information from their surroundings because elephants have an incredible sense of hearing and can feel vibrations through their feet.”

After about four minutes, the elephants felt the danger had passed and dispersed slightly but remained close. Among them, Zuli, one of the seven-year-olds, chose to stand on the outside of the circle, taking on a protective role. Albright highlighted this shift in social responsibility, showing the developing maturity of the young elephant.

African elephants typically live between 60 and 70 years in the wild, benefiting from their social structures that promote cooperation and protection. Herds often work together to fend off predators or threats from human encroachment. Elephants communicate using infrasonic rumbles, sounds too low for human ears, to warn each other of danger over long distances. These social and communication skills are vital for their survival.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the San Diego elephants formed an alert circle in response to an earthquake. Back in 2010, they exhibited similar behavior when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Baja California. Such reactions highlight their instinctual understanding of danger.

In a world where natural disasters can strike without warning, learning from these magnificent creatures might provide insight into resilience and community response. Their quick actions shine a light on the profound connections within their herds, reminding us of the importance of support networks during uncertain times.

For more information about elephants and their behaviors, you can explore resources from the African Elephant Database [https://africanelephantdatabase.org].

Through moments like these, we see just how interconnected these gentle giants are, further deepening our appreciation for their complex social structures.



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