When you purchase through links on our site , we may earn an affiliate commission . Here ’s how it work .
rarified footage captures the momentelephantsat the San Diego Zoo Safari Park mold a protective band around their calves as a 5.2 order of magnitude temblor wobbled Southern California yesterday morning ( April 14 ) .
One of the zoo ’s television camera charm three older elephants ( Ndlula , Umngani and Khosi ) attempting to shield two 7 - year - old calves ( Zuli and Mkhaya ) from potential danger , The Associated Press reported .
Elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 2017.
" Elephants have the unequalled ability to feel sounds through their infantry and organise what [ is ] do it as an ' spanking circle ' during the 5.2 order of magnitude earthquake that shook Southern California this morning , " representatives from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park write in aFacebook poston Monday .
" This behavior , prove here by Ndlula , Zuli , Mkhaya , Umngani , and Khosi , is a natural response to perceived threats that helps protect younger elephants and the herd as a whole , " they add .
The quake struck 3 miles ( 5 kilometers ) in the south of Julian in San Diego County — around 33 miles ( 53 klick ) west of the zoo — at 10:08 a.m. local time on Monday , according to theUnited States Geological Survey . Therehaven’t been any reportsof injuries or equipment casualty to attribute as a resultant of the seism .
Elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 2017.
Related : elephant say ' hello ' to Friend by flap their ears and making footling rumbly noises
African elephants ( Loxodonta africana ) live in closely - knit social groups ground around a lead female , or materfamilias . Their tremendous size intend that elephants have few natural predators in the wild . However , lions , hyenas , and crocodile may attempt to take down new or nauseated members of the herd , accord toThe Maryland Zooin Baltimore .
If the materfamilias observe a predator , she will crowd the young together as the adults form an outward - facing circle like the one seen in the footage from San Diego Zoo . The ring is designed to keep the new good by placing adults between them and predators . The elephant may also apply this band to appraise potential dangers , such as an temblor .
Once in a dress circle , " they sort of suspend as they amass information about where the danger is , " Mindy Albright , a conservator of mammal at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park , recite The Associated Press .
In San Diego , the female sura , Mkhaya , stayed in the nerve center of the circle , while the male calfskin , Zuli , stood on the edge . Albright said that was because Zuli want to show his courage and independence .
— Watch a rare pinkish albino elephant sister acting by a waterhole in adorable footage
— Do ' elephant cemetery ' really exist ?
— ' Most of Gorongosa ’s big animals had died ' : How an African paradise for nature recovered from the ravage of warfare
Khosi , one of the older elephant who helped raise Zuli , repeatedly tapped Zuli on the back with her trunk , and even on the typeface , as if chuck him to say , " things are fine , " and " stay back in the Mexican valium , " accord to Albright .
San Diego Zoo Safari Park voice note that the elephants resumed their normal daily activities after the seism had passed , though they remained in close proximity to one another .
" After this morning ’s shake up , the [ elephant ] take back to business as usual and are good along with the rest of the crew at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance , " representatives drop a line .
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again , you will then be prompted to enter your display name .
