African Elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park instinctively created an “alert circle” during the earthquake.

A herd of African elephants instinctively circled their young in a protective huddle as a 5.2 magnitude earthquake near the ...

The behavior is a “natural response to perceived threats that helps protect younger elephants and the herd as a whole,” the park said.

Elephants at San Diego Zoo Safari Park formed an alert circle to protect their young as a magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit the region Monday morning.

Watch: Elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park surrounded the younger elephants in a protective "alert circle" when a 5.2 ...

As the ground shook from a 5.2-magnitude earthquake, a herd of elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park sprung into action to protect their young. A video shot of their enclosure at the park Monday ...