On April 14, a rather moderate-magnitude 5.2 earthquake rattled most of southern California. The elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park responded purely instinctively, giving us a breathtaking look at their natural behavior. Video recorded in the elephants’ exhibit showed these creatures creating an ‘alarm circle’ around their calves. This protective behavior is a direct response to their environmental stressors that instinctually triggers their protective nature on the earth’s floor.
As the tremors shook the region, the elephants quickly reacted by gathering together, positioning their bodies in a protective formation. It’s something that researchers have seen in wild elephants. For this reason, they tend to band together to create a protective wall of adults around their young from lurking predators. A few days after the earthquake, a video went viral showing the tight family ties in elephant herds. This footage has since gone viral for demonstrating their extraordinary instincts.
The quake, a shallow 5.2, hit around 4AM on December 1st. Residents throughout all of southern California reported their ground shaking, with many still rattled hours later and surprised at the strength the big quake had. No major damage or injuries were found immediately following the quake. The event nonetheless served as a wake-up call to the world about the region’s very real seismic dangers.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is home to a number of elephants. Their behavior during the quake has animal behaviorists and wildlife lovers abuzz. What experts underscore is that the drive to defend their offspring is essential. Understanding this behavior is key to the ongoing success of elephant calves in natural and managed environments. These bullying behaviors are deeply embedded within elephant herds. They demonstrate a social order that places the safety of their most weak members above all else.
This is an amazing glimpse into elephant behavior. It’s still fresh in the public consciousness, it’s important to harness that disaster to increase awareness and understanding of earthquake preparedness. Zoo officials pointed out the importance of knowing what animals do in a disaster. These findings can inform better animal care and safety practices moving forward.