Zoo elephants form 'alert circle' during San Diego earthquake
"This behavior is known as an 'alert circle' and is intended to protect the young -- and the entire herd --from threats," zoo spokesperson Emily Senninger said.
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Elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park rushed to protect younger members of their herd when a 5.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Southern California on April 14.
April 15 (UPI) -- The San Diego Zoo Safari Park shared video of an elephant herd forming an "alert circle" when startled by an earthquake.
The video, recorded during a Monday morning earthquake at the zoo, shows adult African elephants Ndlula, Umngani and Khosi, instinctively forming a circle around youngsters Zuli and Mkhaya as the ground shook.
"This behavior is known as an 'alert circle' and is intended to protect the young -- and the entire herd --from threats," zoo spokesperson Emily Senninger said.
Senninger explained that elephants can feel sound through their feet.
She said the herd returned to normal behaviors after about 4 minutes, but remained in close proximity for a time after the quake.
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