The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance recently posted this amazing video. It captures how elephants intuitively respond when an earthquake strikes. Just last week, on April 14, a relatively small 5.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the desert town of Julian, California, sending shocks that were felt all over San Diego County. The most moving part of the video was watching a family of elephants cluster tightly together to defend their little ones while trying to escape the stampede.
When the earthquake rocked the Earth, the elephants responded in a remarkable, show-stopping act of matriarchal instinct and herd solidarity. The video captures truly powerful moments of adult elephants creating a protective circle around their calves. This unusual behavior underscores their fierce dedication to protecting the world’s neediest little ones. This nurturing kinship behavior is a testament to the close social structure of elephant herds. These herds are known for their compassionate and collaborative nature.
The quake hit during the busy pre-sunset happy hour. Residents from a major, 7.4 mile-wide swathe of the county would experience its severe effects. According to accounts from residents, hundreds were knocked off their feet and forced to take shelter while the ground shook. It was a very dramatic incident, but the elephants performed beautifully in reaction to that. Their response reflects a deep, fundamental crisis response instinct.
The elephant’s protective instincts are so extraordinary that the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance made the decision to share the video in order to highlight their prowess. By making this decision, we hope to educate the public on wildlife behavior during natural disasters. The organization is committed to teaching citizens about protecting habitats. They work to defend animal species that exhibit extraordinary social organization.
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