There ’s something intrinsically funny about this image . We ca n’t aid but laugh at the theme of earth ’s biggest country animal recoiling in fear whenever a humble small computer mouse scurries by . uncounted cartoon have play with this trope , include an lovely “ Sidney the Elephant ” little from 1960 :
But are the jumbo mammal reallymusophobic ? According to zoologists and handlers from around the earthly concern , the result is “ no”—or , rather , “ not exactly . ”
A serial of 1939experimentsyielded some very interesting solvent . Researcher F. G. Benedict found that zoological garden - dwelling elephant consistently fail to oppose when a mouse figure their field of imagination . Even those brave mice who climbed onto the creatures ’ trunks were dismiss . However , when a mouse scurried over a mainsheet of theme , a few elephants — evidently spooked by the unusual rustle noise — tolerate up and trumpet .
In 2006 , Ringling Brothers elephant flight simulator Troy Metzler guide a basic frighttest . The genus Circus employee held up a series of ashen mouse , gift them at eye level to elephant after elephant . As an ABC reporter who was present at the view noted , the elephant appeared whole unfazed by Metzler ’s rodents .
Captive elephant on a regular basis issue forth into contact with stray mice . For the most part , the little pests do n’t seem to vex them . At least , not flat .
Still , elephants canstartle easily . give their poor eyesight , elephants are liable to get scared when something induce by without warning . ( In India , for example , it ’s not uncommon for a humble , trotting dog to send a ride elephant racing for the hills . )
So , while black eye are n’t inherently vexing to elephant , the sudden bowel movement of these little creatures could put them on edge should they be take on by surprise . Two even pocket-size creatures , however , have been known to bother them .
Guardian pismire will passionately defend their tree diagram - based colonies against elephants by crawling into their anterior naris . Unsurprisingly , the mega - herbivores confidential information clear of infested plants , as researchersdiscoveredin 2010 . “ It seems that elephant merely do not like ant swarm up the interior of their trunks and I ca n’t say I blame them , ” biologist Todd Palmer remark .
bee , too , can drive them crazy . When the insects get going pullulate , African elephants generally get . elephant even warn each other about raging bees from afar with a specialalarm call . Scientists go for to employ transcription of thislow grumbleto keep the Brobdingnagian creatures away from crop fields and populated areas .
