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As a 5.2-magnitude earthquake rippled through Southern California on Monday morning, it wasn't just people who felt the jolt.
At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, a herd of African elephants instinctively reacted, springing into protective mode as the ground shook beneath them.
Elephants prove they're the real protective parents
Surveillance footage shared by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance captured the remarkable moment the older elephants encircled the youngest of their herd.
In the video above, the group of five can be seen standing calmly before the tremor begins.
Within seconds, the adult elephants quickly regroup, forming a tight protective circle around two young calves, Zuli and Mkhaya.
The move, known as an "alert circle," is a common defense behavior in elephants, especially in response to perceived threats.
"They sort of freeze as they gather information about where the danger is," explained Mindy Albright, curator of mammals at the Safari Park.
Elephants are capable of detecting seismic vibrations through their feet, which often makes them sensitive to earthquakes before the shaking becomes visible.
In the moments after the quake, the adults, identified as Ndlula, Umngani, and Khosi, remained vigilant.
Their ears flared, and their stances remained firm while they shielded the calves, even after the ground had stilled.
One touching moment captured on camera shows teenage elephant Khosi gently tapping the young male calf, Zuli, who lingered at the edge of the circle, seemingly reluctant to retreat.
"She was patting him almost like saying, 'Stay back in the circle,'" said Albright.
"Things are OK."
Although the quake caused minor disruptions in San Diego County, sending boulders onto roads and shaking items off store shelves in Julian, there were no reports of serious injuries or major damage.
Still, the animals' reaction highlights their deep intelligence and strong social bonds.
"It's so great to see them doing the thing we all should be doing, that any parent does-which is protect their children," Albright added.
Roughly an hour later, when a 4.0-magnitude aftershock struck, the herd repeated the behavior, briefly huddling before dispersing once again.