• A herd of elephants at San Diego Zoo formed an "alert circle" during a 5.2 magnitude earthquake.
• This behavior, used to protect young, showcases elephants' complex social instincts.
• The incident highlights their ability to detect seismic vibrations before felt by humans.
• The action reflects typical behavior in the wild when faced with threats.
• No injuries or significant damage were reported due to the earthquake in the region.

On Monday morning, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck Southern California, prompting a herd of African elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to form a protective "alert circle" around their calves. This defensive behavior involved the adult elephants—Ndlula, Umngani, and Khosi—quickly surrounding the two 7-year-old calves, Zuli and Mkhaya, as they perceived the potential danger, securing them in the center, according to The New York Times.

This alert circle is a typical response for elephants during perceived threats, a behavior characterized by adults facing outward while the young calves are sheltered inside. “They feel more secure when they are close together,” explained Joyce Poole, a conservation biologist, acknowledging how this formation enhances their ability to monitor their surroundings for dangers, as noted in Newsweek.

The reaction of the elephants was notably coordinated; video footage captured the moment the elephants scrambled into their protective stance after feeling the ground shake at 10 a.m. The earthquake, which had its epicenter near Julian, California, was felt as far as Los Angeles, yet luckily caused no injuries or major damages, reported NPR.

Mindy Albright, a curator at the park, emphasized the impressive nature of elephants' social interactions, stating, “It’s so great to see them doing the thing we all should be doing — protecting our children,” highlighting the herd's instinctive resilience, as per Los Angeles Times.

Experts noted that elephants possess an acute sensitivity to vibrations, which allows them to detect earthquakes before they occur, a trait noted by Joshua Plotnik, who referred to historical instances where elephants responded to impending disasters, such as the Boxing Day tsunami in 2006. Understanding these behaviors is crucial for the conservation of elephants, who are facing significant threats in their natural habitats, according to HuffPost.