Elephants Form Circle to Protect Young During Earthquake

Elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park reacted as they felt the ground shake. Acting on an instinct as old as time, they formed a tight circle to protect two of their young. Zoologists call it an "alert circle." For several minutes, the adult pachyderms stood watch over the little ones, making sure they were safe. Finally, when they felt the danger had passed, the elephants dispersed. According to seismologists, the Southern California earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2.