🐘 (with Video) When an earthquake struck San Diego, these elephants formed an 'alert circle' - very cool

[underpants]

?si=0eRzbc5G8ebKTD_t

When a 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit Southern California on Monday, humans followed the usual drill: drop, cover and hold on.

But one herd of elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, Calif. had their own plan — circle up and stand together.

Experts call this behavior an "alert circle," a response matriarch elephants display when they perceive a threat.

"Elephants are highly social, they take care of each other," says Joshua Plotnik, an associate professor of psychology at Hunter College in New York who studies elephant behavior.

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/15/nx-s1-5366007/earthquake-san-diego-elephants-protective-circle

[Bo Zarts]

1. This is absolutely incredible.

I saw it yesterday, but thanks for posting it here.

[misanthrope]

2. Elephants also communicate in ultra low frequencies

too low for the human ear. The longer wavelengths carry over vast distances.

I would be curious to know if their perception allowed them to pick up on any vibrations that preceded the actual shaking.

[Lovie777]

3. They care about each other...........

something so called GQP Christian don't quite compute.

[AllaN01Bear]

10. they also have their fav humans. i subscribe to a elephant rescue

outfit inthailand via youtube and wnen one oftheir fav humans return from long vaca they greet them with trumprying and other things . cool to watch. yes they do care about each other .

[Tripper11]

4. Wonderful!

Now I think we should all start forming alert circles, we're gonna need them!

[oasis]

5. "I got you"

[Raine]

6. BEAUTIFUL the way they look after each other especially the little ones! 🐘🐘🐘 nt

[BigmanPigman]

7. I was a docent at the San Diego Space Theater and they showed

Last edited Wed Apr 16, 2025, 12:50 AM - Edit history (1)

a film about elephants being raised in Africa by a humanitarian group and it was incredible. This is another reason I am now a misanthrope. People destroy just about everything while these wonderful animals get screwed by humans for $$$$$$$$$$$.

I just sent this video to my sister in San Diego (she loves elephants) and her reply was "incredible" and that pretty much sums it up.

[canetoad]

8. Thanks

Such great, intelligent creatures. Lots of good elephant vids on YouTube.

[malaise]

9. Truly lovely

Saw it on BBC this morning 😀