A video showing elephants intelligence and statusal awareness has gone viral on social media. In the clip, a herd of African elephants at the San Diego Zoo can be seen creating a protective “alert circle” around its youth, as soon as he felt an earthquake in Southern California earlier this week.
According to the San Diego zoo, elephants have a unique ability to feel voice through their feet. As soon as the 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook the region, he spontaneously reacted to protect the weakest members of the flock, showing a strong sense of family relations.
Older elephants, identified as Nedula, Umnagni, Khosi, scattered and molded two seven years old calves, zuli and makhaya, which were quietly waiting for the situation to be normal.
“This behavior is a natural response to perceived hazards to protect the flock,” the zoo wrote in the video caption.
An hour later, when an afterchock hit the area, the elephants briefly hummed again and again when they kept everyone safe, they dispersed.
“After this morning, [the elephants] The zoo said, “The rest of the crew along with their regular routines are more safe.
Strong together 🐘
Elephants have a unique ability to feel the sounds through their feet and a “alert circle” was formed during the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that shook southern California this morning. This behavior is a natural reaction to perceived hazards to protect the flock. pic.twitter.com/lqavokht6k
– San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (@sandiegozoo) 14 April, 2025
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Social media reacts
As the video went viral, social media users praised gentle veterans for taking care of the group’s small people and being responsible.
A user said, “I think elephants are not only intelligent, but have sympathy and take care of their kind,” Each other said, while the other said: “What a great video! Their tendency is incredible.”
One third remarked: “Why does this video make me emotional? Lamo.”
Despite their extraordinaryly large size, elephants are some of the most intelligent animals that have extraordinary memories. They are highly adaptable and live their lives in a social, hierarchical structure.