Touching Moment: Elephants Surround Young One During Earthquake in San Diego

"During the April 14, 2025, earthquake in California, elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park instinctively formed a protective circle around their young. The heartwarming moment was captured on video and shared by the zoo via Storyful."

The Brief

*On the morning of Monday, April 14, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck Julian, California.

*Roughly 40 miles away, elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park sensed the tremor and instinctively moved to shield their young.

* The zoo shared footage of the moment, describing it as a natural protective response to a perceived threat.

A heartwarming video from the San Diego Zoo shows elephants rushing to protect their young as an earthquake struck earlier this week.

San Diego earthquake

The backstory:

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit Julian, California, the morning of Monday, April 14. The quake swung light fixtures and rattled shelves in San Diego and was felt as far north as Los Angeles.

READ MORE: California earthquake: 5.2 magnitude quake strikes near San Diego

Elephants react to earthquake

                                        Credit: San Diego Zoo Safari Park via Storyful

Video Perspective:

Footage shared by the San Diego Zoo Safari Park—located just under 40 miles from the earthquake’s epicenter—shows elephants quickly forming what’s known as an “alert circle” to shield the youngest members of their herd, the zoo wrote on X.

“Elephants have the unique ability to sense vibrations through their feet,” the park explained. “This behavior is a natural protective response to perceived threats.”
What They're Saying:

The zoo confirmed that all the elephants—Ndlula, Zuli, Mkhaya, Umngani, and Khosi—are safe and have since returned to their normal routine.

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