SAN DIEGO — As a 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook the surrounding area, the elephants at San Diego Zoo Safari Park sprang into action to protect their young ones. A video captured during the Monday morning event reveals how the African elephants were initially basking in the sun before the ground began to tremble, prompting them to scatter in various directions. The older elephants, named Ndlula, Umngani, and Khosi, instinctively formed a protective circle around Zuli and Mkhaya, two young 7-year-old calves, ensuring their safety from any perceived dangers.
Despite the tremor subsiding, the mature elephants maintained their huddle for several moments, keeping watch with their ears alert, ready for any further chaos. The earthquake made its presence known from San Diego to Los Angeles, approximately 120 miles away. Though it dislodged boulders on secluded roads in San Diego County and disordered shop displays in Julian, a nearby small mountain town close to the epicenter, fortunately, there were no injuries or major damage reported. However, the incident did startle the elephants.
Mindy Albright, a curator of mammals at the zoo, explained that when elephants perceive danger, they gather closely in an arrangement referred to as an “alert circle,” with the youngsters securely in the center while adults stand guard on the outside. These smart, social creatures have a unique ability to sense vibrations through their feet.
In the video, one of the young calves heads for safety amid the adult herd, surrounded by the matriarchs who have been part of her upbringing. Interestingly, the male calf opted to remain on the periphery, showcasing his bravery and sense of independence, described Albright. The female elephant, Khosi, a teenager who has helped raise him alongside his biological mother Ndlula, gently nudged him with her trunk, as if reassuring him with a comforting gesture, “It’s alright,” and encouraging him to stay within the protective circle.
Albright noted that while Zuli, still a baby, benefits from the nurturing environment for now, his role will transition over time as he matures into a bull and will eventually join a group of bachelors. In contrast, the female elephants reside with their family unit throughout their lives. “It’s truly remarkable to watch them doing what is instinctual — ensuring the safety of their young, something any parent would do,” she said.
When an aftershock followed approximately an hour later, the elephants quickly regrouped to assess the situation and, seeing no imminent threat, they dispersed once again, confident in each other’s safety.