Earthquakes can be very stressful for people who are caught in them, but what about animals who aren’t as aware of the danger? A family of elephants located at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park seems to have priorities similar to ours.
Last Monday at 10 am, many residents of Escondido were given quite the scare when a 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit the area. Footage taken from the elephants’ enclosure displays that the gentle giants also felt the disturbance. Instead of showing any signs of panic, the adults gathered around the younger elephants in what is known as an “alert circle”, protecting them from whatever threats they detected. After a few minutes, the earthquake ended, and the elephants broke up the circle. Even then, they remained close together to ensure that the danger wouldn’t return.
The footage of these mammals found its way to news outlets and journalists, who were amazed by these elephants’ adaptability and connection to the herd. Many of the zoo’s experts explained that elephants have a great sense of hearing and that they can hear the seismic waves of earthquakes through their feet. They are also very protective of their families, which is why they stayed in the circle formation and surveyed the environment for any potential danger.
Many people were moved by their instincts as a family unit, which likely parallels many parents who prioritize their children’s safety over their own. This serves as another testament to the unique bond that we share with animals.
