First of all, they’re in a zoo. Second of all, there was an earthquake.
What’s a mother to do?
On Monday, a 5.2 quake hit southern California. Five African elephants in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park instantly bunched in a tight circle protecting their calves. The adult elephants stood rump-to-rump, facing out, tusks out, ears up, smelling, listening, forming an alert circle.
Elephants take care of each other. In the wild, and apparently at the zoo, females lead and bring up the rear of the herd. They communicate with low-frequency rumbles and joyous trumpet sounds. They love to touch each other. They’re good swimmers and their trunks act like snorkels. Elephants can solve problems, use certain tools, and they have memories like elephants. The only thing they’re afraid of is bees.
They have a herd mentality but they’re also democratic – they all get a say.
When there was no further earthquake danger, the elephants went back to bathing, eating, taking walks and maybe wondering about humans.