When the ground started shaking, a herd of African elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park formed a protective barrier, known as an "alert circle," around their youngest. Experts say it's a demonstration of their sharp instincts,

When a 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook Southern California on Monday morning, one elephant herd did something extraordinary and heart-melting. At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a viral Instagram video shows the elephants quickly forming a protective circle around their youngest members,

Elephants are highly intelligent and social animals that have the ability to feel sound through their feet. When they perceive a threat, they often bunch together in an “alert circle”, typically with the young clustered in the centre and the adults facing outward to defend the group.