A 5.2-magnitude earthquake in San Diego caused a herd of African elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to spring into action to protect their young. The elephants, consisting of three older ones and two 7-year-old calves, immediately huddled together in a circle after the ground shook. The older elephants, Ndlula, Umngani, and Khosi, surrounded the young calves, Zuli and Mkhaya, to shield them from any potential threats as they looked outward with their ears spread and flapping. The quake was felt from San Diego to Los Angeles but caused no injuries or major damage, only spooking the elephants.
Elephants are highly intelligent and social animals that have the ability to feel sound through their feet. When they perceive a threat, they often gather in a protective circle with the young in the center and the adults facing outward. In the video, one of the calves sought refuge between the adults while the other, a male, displayed courage and independence on the edge of the circle. The female elephant, Khosi, tapped him reassuringly with her trunk to convey that everything was okay.
The calves’ roles in the herd will evolve as they grow, with Zuli eventually joining a male bachelor group while the female elephants stay with the family unit for life. The curator of mammals at the safari park noted that the elephants’ instinct to protect their young is a reflection of parental behavior seen in all species. The elephants briefly huddled again during an aftershock but dispersed once they confirmed everyone was safe.
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