Elephants at San Diego zoo form ‘alert circle’ to protect young during quake

Video shows the herd forming a protective circle around youngster during powerful earthquake

As the ground shook from a 5.2-magnitude earthquake, a herd of elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park sprang into action to protect their young.

A video shot of their enclosure at the park on Monday morning shows the five African elephants standing around in the morning sun before the camera shakes and they run in different directions. Then the older elephants - Ndlula, Umngani, Khosi - scramble to encircle and shield the two seven-year-old calves, Zuli and Mkhaya, from any possible threats.