Elephants protect their young at San Diego Zoo during earthquake.

On Monday, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck Southern California, prompting an observable protective behavior among a herd of elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The seismic event, which occurred at 10:08 a.m. with its epicenter reported approximately 2.49 miles south of Julian, San Diego County, resulted in no injuries or significant damage. However, the zoo’s surveillance footage showcased a remarkable display of maternal instinct among the park’s five African elephants, which included two calves aged seven.

Initially, as the tremors began, the elephants scattered in a moment of confusion. However, they quickly regrouped into a tight huddle, with the adult elephants forming a protective perimeter around the younger members of the group. In a display of their social structure and instinctual behavior, the mature elephants—identified as Ndlula, Umngani, and Khosi—adopted positions facing outward, ears flared in readiness, effectively encircling the calves Zuli and Mkhaya in what experts term an “alert circle.”

This behavior, which demonstrates the elephants’ unique ability to sense vibrations and sounds through their feet, is understood to be a natural response to perceived threats. Zoo officials highlighted that this instinct serves to safeguard the young members of the herd during situations of uncertainty and danger. The protecting matriarchs remained vigilant for several minutes after the initial quake, continuing their defensive posture during a subsequent aftershock that occurred approximately an hour later.

The seismic event was preceded by a 3.3 magnitude foreshock on Sunday, as noted by seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones from the U.S. Geological Survey. While the earthquake caused no reported injuries or major infrastructural damage, it was followed by at least seven aftershocks, a common occurrence in the aftermath of such seismic activities.

Observing the elephants’ instinctual protective behavior draws parallels to human parental instincts, as noted by zoo officials, who remarked on the universal theme of guardianship among species. The incident not only underscores the elephants’ remarkable social structures but also their sensitivity to environmental disturbances, further enriching the public’s understanding of these intelligent and emotionally complex animals.

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