At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a herd of African elephants was captured on video rushing to shield their young during Monday’s earthquake, forming a protective circle around them in a behavior known as an “alert circle.”
Context
Elephants can detect vibrations through their feet, which likely triggered the response. The herd—including Ndlula, Umngani, Khosi, and the young elephants Zuli and Mkhaya—appeared to calm down after a few minutes, according to the park.
What to Know
On Monday, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Julian in San Diego County at 10:08 a.m. local time, sending tremors across Southern California. The quake, originating near the Elsinore fault zone—a branch of the San Andreas system—was felt as far north as Los Angeles, approximately 120 miles away.
Nearly 40,000 people reported that they felt the quake, according to USGS.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported several aftershocks following the initial tremor. Despite the widespread shaking, there were no reports of serious injuries or major structural damage. However, the quake did cause minor disruptions, including rocks falling onto roads…