How Elephants in the Zoo Worked Together to Safeguard Their Group During a Recent Earthquake in Southern California
When Earthquakes Occur, Elephants Create a Protective “Alert Circle”: An Insight Into Their Remarkable Behavior
On April 14, 2025, a strong 5.2-magnitude earthquake jolted Southern California, its epicenter located close to the quaint mountain community of Julian—approximately an hour’s drive east of San Diego. Amid the unexpected and disconcerting quakes, astonishing footage recorded at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido provided a rare and intriguing glimpse into how elephants collectively respond to threats. Captured by zoo surveillance cameras, a herd of elephants was observed forming what is referred to as an “alert circle,” a behavior that highlights their extraordinary social intelligence and protective instincts.
A Moment of Unity
As the earth began to tremble, the camera at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park also shook—a clear indication of the earthquake’s strength. Just as the vibrations started, the resident elephant group quickly reacted. Three adult female elephants—Ndlula, Umngani, and Khosi—came together and instinctively created a tight circle around the group’s youngest members: seven-year-old calves Zuli and Mkhaya.
This arrangement, termed an “alert circle,” serves as the elephants’ natural defensive stance in the face of threats. It is employed to protect the most susceptible members of the herd from perceived dangers. In this situation, that threat was the vibrations from the earthquake, but similar actions may be taken when predators, intruders, or other hazards are sensed nearing.
The alert circle was short-lived—once the trembling stopped and no further immediate threats were detected, the elephants gradually dispersed and went back to their regular routines. This reaction not only underscores the close social bonds within elephant herds but also their ability to detect and interpret seismic activity in ways that even humans are just starting to grasp.
Perceiving the Earth Through Their Feet
One distinctive capability allowing elephants to sense earthquakes is their heightened sensitivity to ground vibrations. Unlike humans, elephants do not solely depend on their ears to “hear.” They also “listen” via their feet—thanks to their large, spongy footpads that are designed to perceive low-frequency sound waves and vibrations.
These vibrations are picked up by specialized cells in their feet known as Pacinian corpuscles, a kind of mechanoreceptor capable of sensing even the faintest ground movements. Research indicates that these vibrations are transmitted up the elephant’s limbs through bone conduction, allowing them to reach the brain in a manner comparable to how humans process sounds through their ears.
Joshua Plotnik, an associate professor of psychology at CUNY Hunter College and a specialist in elephant behavior, remarked during an NPR interview that elephants have historically been seen utilizing this vibrational sensitivity to evade danger. For instance, there are anecdotal instances of elephants in Thailand moving to higher ground before the catastrophic 2004 tsunami, suggesting they may have sensed the underwater seismic activity preceding the waves.
Nature’s Earthquake Awareness
While humans are instructed to “drop, cover, and hold on” during seismic disturbances, elephants present a distinctly different—but equally effective—response. Their instinct to prioritize the group, forming a protective circle around the most vulnerable members, highlights their evolved sense of community and collaboration.
Furthermore, this behavior is not merely impressive; it’s a testament to how intricately connected animals are to their surroundings—sometimes in manners we are only starting to grasp. Elephants have long been acknowledged for their emotional intelligence and complex social structures. From mourning rituals to problem-solving and even exhibiting joy, their behaviors continue to shed light on the breadth of emotions and cognitive abilities they possess.
The footage from the San Diego Safari Park, shared by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, quickly gained traction online. It stands as a remarkable illustration of how animals perceive and react to natural phenomena—occasionally even better equipped than we are.
The Significance of Safeguarding Earth’s Majestic Creatures
As more insights emerge regarding the physical and emotional capabilities of elephants, the urgency to protect these magnificent beings and their natural habitats grows. Regardless of whether they are in the wild or receiving care in conservation-centered facilities like the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, elephants inspire invaluable wisdom and understanding.
Their response to this earthquake reiterates the lessons we can gain from observing the natural world—particularly from creatures that have navigated it with instincts that occasionally exceed our own.
For those who missed it, the video showcasing the elephants forming their alert circle during the earthquake is accessible via the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.
Related Reading:
– Research Reveals 65 Different Species of Animals Laugh To Convey Happiness
– Discover More About How Elephants, Among the World’s Most Intelligent Animals, Grieve
– This African Gray Parrot Is the First Animal To Ever Pose an Existential Question
– European Zoos Are Salvaging Christmas Trees From Landfills and Repurposing Them for Animal Enrichment
Sources:
– NPR – When an Earthquake Struck San Diego, These Elephants