Why is the big elephant afraid of the little mouse? Is it true that elephants are afraid of mice? Is an elephant afraid of mice

The animal world is so diverse and amazing that we are ready to contemplate the majestic, noble lions and small, funny furry animals for hours. All animals are so different, but each takes something, causes a smile, a desire to take care of him, or, conversely, makes him run away without looking back.

People are constantly striving to understand the nature of animals, but very often this gives rise to somewhat extravagant opinions that spread fairly quickly across the earth, misleading several hundred more people. One such opinion is that elephants are afraid of mice.

Elephant... A giant of the animal world, mysterious, calm and at the same time dangerous. Elephants reach four meters in height and up to seven tons in weight. But rumor stubbornly insists that elephants are terribly afraid of a baby mouse and bypass it. And explanations for this alleged fact are also constantly appearing new and more and more extravagant.

The first reason: the elephant is worried about his legs. It's no secret that mice are agile and ubiquitous creatures. They are quite capable of getting between the fingers and gnaw through the heels. Thus, the mouse will cause the elephant a sharp pain, from which it is very difficult for him to get rid of. But science has long proven that a mouse can only tickle an elephant, and then not for long (not without reason, they have seven tons of weight).

The second reason: the mouse can get into the trunk, which will cause suffocation and death. If you remember with what force the elephant blows streams of water through its trunk, it becomes clear that some kind of mouse will simply fly out of there with a bullet! And do not forget that the elephant breathes excellently through the mouth, and therefore is not afraid of instant death from a small rodent.

Reason three: the elephant stops in front of the mouse to hear it. Adherents of this explanation believe that elephants and mice communicate on infrasound signals that are elusive to humans. But if we compare the lungs and vocal cords of a mouse and the same elephant, it becomes clear that only the latter can support the conversation.

There are many more reasons why elephants should (!) be afraid and cowardly run away from mice. But in fact, elephants are not afraid of them. They are just cautious and want to see any obstacle in their path. When the experiment was carried out with mice, the elephants for the first 10 seconds and, however, backed up a little, carefully examining the live hairballs in front of them. But after a couple of minutes, several rodents were already accidentally crushed, and the elephants completely forgot about them, walking around the cage.

But elephants still have one fear that really makes them panic and run away. But this is far from a harmless mouse, but an African honey bee. One such bee can infect the whole swarm with its aggressive mood, and neither an elephant nor a person can resist hundreds of sharp stings.

The fact that elephants are afraid of mice has been known for a very long time. Someone considers this information a fiction, and someone believes in its veracity. Is such a large animal really afraid of a small rodent? Or is it an interesting move by animators and storytellers? Why are elephants afraid of mice? How can a moving rodent harm the largest mammal on our planet?

Truth or fiction?

Before looking for the origins of fear, you need to understand whether there is fear itself. Why dream of green grass? Is she dreaming of something? Is the dream prophetic? It's the same with elephants.

The Discovery Channel airs the MythBusters show. In one of the episodes, the guys went to Africa to check the legend about the fear of the elephant. The little rodent was hidden in elephant dung. When the giant approached, the dung pellets were lifted up. And the massive animal, noticing the mouse, stepped aside, leaving an "obstacle" on the side. When the manure was lifted without a small animal, the giant continued to walk straight.

That is, the giant's fear of the rodent is real. Of course, the elephant did not rush to run away, throwing his ears back. But he showed some caution. Avoided the obstacle. What is the reason for such caution, which people often confuse with the concept of “fear”?

Why is the elephant afraid of the tailed rodent?

1) A small mouse can accidentally get into the interdigital joints on the elephant's legs. Given the size of the animals, the rodent will be quite comfortable there. The mouse can even eat particles of the giant's skin. But the latter will not be able to get the disturbing rodent on its own.

2) Elephant skin, although thick, is very delicate and sensitive. Mice easily gnaw through the skin on the legs of other animals and bring infection there. It is painful for the giant to walk after such an acquaintance. Therefore, it is easier to bypass possible contact with a sharp-toothed animal than to risk your health.

3) Elephants are conservative. They are afraid of any noise and rustle from sources unknown to them. And the mice make enough rustle, while remaining invisible.

4) The ear of an elephant has an extensive circulatory system.. A huge fan helps the animal to regulate its body temperature in the tropics. Even a young mouse can easily gnaw through any artery in the ear, which is fraught for a giant.

It is believed that the rodent is able to climb into the giant's trunk, causing the latter to suffocate. But this is unlikely. The elephant will easily exhale the obstacle that has fallen into the trunk. In addition, giants can breathe through their mouths.

There is also an opinion that because of the fear of rodents, elephants sleep standing up. But scientists have seen quite a few giants who lay down to sleep on the ground. Standing posture during sleep is not due to fear of mice. So huge animals are protected from overheating and reduce the load on the heart.

It was also noted that only those representatives of the animal world who were already troubled by rodents were afraid of mice. Let not personally a certain giant. But someone from the herd, for example. After all, individuals from the same herd transmit information to each other. There is no genetic fear of rodents. Elephants will not run when they see a mouse. They will show caution, bypass the small animal side. But they won't run away.

Imagine a zoo. It will not be possible to completely protect it from mice. Brazen little animals will walk around the territory in herds and visit those cells that they like. If the largest and heaviest animals were terribly afraid of small mice, they would smash the zoo, running away from pests.

To a simple question: "Whom are elephants most afraid of?" many, without hesitation, would answer: "Of course, mice." And they would be absolutely wrong. Because in fact, elephants are not afraid of mice. Scientists specifically conducted experiments by launching small rodents into enclosures for these giants. Elephants at the same time felt anything, but not fear.

Everyone knows that elephants are terrified of mice. This is written about in fiction and popular science literature (and sometimes, by the way, in school textbooks), they talk about it in various television and radio programs, and feature films. Moreover, interesting details are sometimes given - as if, just seeing the approach of a small rodent, the elephant immediately starts to flee. Or they tell stories about how, with the help of mice, the inhabitants of tropical villages drive away gluttonous giants from their crops (and no one will wonder why the problem of spoiling crops by elephants is still one of the most acute in Africa and India).

At times, even this statement is trying to somehow argue. For example, they say that the cause of fear is that a mouse can get into the trunk of an elephant and cause discomfort (and even bring the matter to the fact that the elephant suffocates). It is also said that a mouse can gnaw at the soles of an elephant during sleep - that is why these giants always sleep standing up. Well, and, finally, they say that elephants are scared by the rustle made by mice, and elephants are generally afraid of any rustles.

However, for many people, no proof is needed - this statement is practically an axiom, approximately the same as the statement that "through a point on a plane, you can draw only one line parallel to the given one." Although, in fact, those who think so do not even suspect that they are simply repeating one of the myths. Which, by the way, appeared not so long ago.

For the first time, reports of elephant "mousephobia" appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. Moreover, this version was not disseminated by zoologists at all, but by journalists. They all referred to the words of trainers and circus workers who told them the following: when a new elephant appears in the circus, you need to carefully monitor that mice do not approach him (and they always strive to climb into his enclosure, because they are interested in crumbs from the “elephant table” "). Because if the mouse does get into the cage, the elephant will start to get nervous - back up, trumpet, try to stand on its hind legs, etc. runaway elephant.

It is interesting that such publications quickly interested scientists. As a result, several experiments were carried out with mice and elephants. To a variety of animals (that is, males, females and cubs of both African and Asian elephants), mice were launched into cages, and a lot. For the experiment, both newly caught giants and those that had long lived in captivity were selected. However, the result in all cases was the same - the elephants did not think they were afraid of small and cute rodents.

What researchers didn’t do during such experiments: they put mice on the trunk, and inside it, hid mice in elephant food, launched these rodents on sleeping giants, etc. But everything was in vain - elephants never showed much fear, even when a mouse ran over their trunks. Moreover, elephants, to which several rodents were launched into a cage, often deliberately pulled their trunks to small animals in order to sniff them, and sometimes gently took them with their “fifth limb” and brought them closer to their eyes. It is also interesting that during such experiments, many mice were accidentally crushed by elephants, and it seems that the giants were very sorry for their carelessness.

However, some recently caught elephants, seeing mice for the first time, did at first move back and did not dare to make contact with them. However, when the rodents were re-launched, they were already showing curiosity. It turns out that here one cannot speak of any specific "mousephobia" - the elephant only demonstrated caution.

It is known that these giants are conservative, and any new object alarms them at first. It is not surprising that wild elephants showed exactly the same reaction when rabbits, chickens and dachshunds were released into their enclosure. But what is most interesting is that the elephant, although he felt insecure, still did not panic and did not even once try to attack a creature he had not seen before.

So, as you can see, the experiments proved the complete failure of the assertion that elephants are afraid of mice. However, if you think about it, the above argument in itself was rather weak. Let's start with the fact that elephants in nature do not always sleep standing up - if there is an opportunity to lie down, the elephant does it. Standing, they sleep only during the hot part of the day, since the rapidly warming ground at dawn can provide the elephant with a quick heat shock. And in the rainy season, elephants do not deny themselves the pleasure of lying down.

Moreover, the assertion that a mouse can gnaw through the soles of elephants is not true. Firstly, any mouse, being next to such a giant as an elephant, has every chance of dying from heat stroke - can you imagine how much heat a giant's body heated during the day gives off?

Secondly, think for yourself, why do mice, which mainly eat plant foods, waste their time and energy on gnawing the legs of an elephant? Does she have nothing else to do? Well, and finally, although the skin in some places of the sole of elephants is thinner than the average on the body of an animal, however, even a mouse can gnaw through it in a very long time - somewhere in an hour of continuous work with its jaws. And what, is it really impossible for the elephant to wake up?

As for the fact that an elephant can suffocate if a mouse gets into its trunk, then those who think so for some reason forget that this giant can actually breathe through his mouth. Yes, and, as the same experiments showed, if a mouse really got into the elephant’s trunk, he didn’t even need to sneeze in order to expel it - it was enough to just make a stronger exhalation. And the dumbfounded mouse flew out at about the speed of an arrow from a crossbow.

True, the rustle of elephants really do not like. The fact is that usually large predators, such as lions, leopards or tigers, can rustle, sneaking up on elephants. Therefore, such sounds always serve as a signal of danger to elephants. Not surprisingly, in the experiments, the elephants reacted nervously to it at first. But, having discovered the very source of the rustling, these giants completely calmed down.

Irina Vyacheslavovna Mozzhelina

WHY ELEPHANTS ARE AFRAID OF MICE? And ARE YOU AFRAID?

Huge animals up to four meters high can terrify most living beings, but at the same time they panic fear tiny rodents. What is it about? Of course oh elephants and mice.

For a long time, man has known that elephant giants there is a fear of miniature animals, and this fear is supposedly "genetic". This confirms the human opinion about the cowardice of large creatures and the courage of small ones. But is it true that elephants are afraid of mice? And if yes, then why and how do mice scare huge elephants?

Why are elephants afraid of mice?: arguments

What a tiny mouse can scare elephant? They say that once upon a time, when elephants first encountered the troops mice, rodents gave the giants a lot of trouble. The mice allegedly began to gnaw through the heels elephants and even arrange elephant limbs mink. Exactly because of this reason elephants supposedly learned to sleep standing up.

In addition, the mice gnawed at the interdigital joints with pleasure. elephants which caused physical discomfort to large animals. Little of: mice managed to climb into the trunks elephants and blocked the breath, why elephants even died. So u elephantsdeveloped a fear of rodents and turned into a kind of reflex: they say, just seeing the mouse, elephants they immediately take off running.

There are other interesting theories that explain why are elephants afraid of mice. Mice get on elephants, crawl over them and ... tickle. BUT elephants, poor things, so ticklish that might die. They also say that mice gnaw at elephant claws, and legs elephants become vulnerable. In general, if you dig deeper, you can find a dozen more reasons why why are elephants afraid of mice. Alas, almost all of them are just myths. Elephants are not at all afraid of mice and it has been proven by curious scientists.

All this is just fiction!

« Elephants are afraid of mice» : Where do legs grow from this myth?

Now it is difficult to say where the myth came from, that elephants are afraid of mice. Perhaps the story of the cowardly elephants and brave mice was the basis of some fairy tale or legend - Indian or Arabic. This myth is allegorical, because one of the participants in the story is a giant, a kind of Goliath, and the second is a small, but extremely nimble animal. in a cartoon "Tom and Jerry" the mouse always turns out to be the winner, although in real life this alignment is unlikely. There were also many fairy tales about cowardly lions. opposition mice and elephants also found quite often in the literature (mostly in fables).

According to some versions, the myth that mice are a thunderstorm elephants, arose when zoos and circuses appeared. Their workers drew attention to the fact that in the cages and near the cages elephants there were always mice. Reaction elephants on these miniature creatures, they say, it was very reminiscent of fear. But mice may well attract food elephants(bread and root crops, and not at all the cowardice of the enemy.

Elephants in the zoo

Are elephants afraid of mice?? The opinion of scientists on this matter

Scientists and trainers from different countries have conducted experiments more than once, trying to confirm or refute people's opinion about fear. elephants before mice. There is no data on any experiment, the results of which would confirm that elephants experience a special fear and awe before mice. On the contrary, many studies have shown that the myth of elephants and mice is really a myth.

What zoologists have done: planted mice on trunk, launched a bunch mice in a cage with elephants, hid mice into elephant food, etc.. n. Never elephants showed little fear. When the mouse was on the trunk elephant, giant "and didn't raise an eyebrow". elephants, to which they launched into the cage mice, reacted very calmly and even pulled their trunks to small animals to sniff them. By the way, during such experiments there are many mice were crushed by elephants absolutely with impunity.

Why are elephants afraid of mice? Where did such a strange statement come from, and is it true that a giant elephant has a fear of a small mouse?

About seven tons in weight. Height is about four meters. Impressive? This is an elephant. This word alone speaks for itself, giving rise to a whole chain of associations. Is there anyone in the animal world who would dare to compete with this hero of the animal kingdom?

And is this hero able to be afraid of at least someone? It would seem that this is impossible, but popular rumor with enviable persistence continues to develop one belief.

Elephants suffer from a paradoxical phobia, which consists in the fact that these huge animals allegedly experience a panic fear of mice.

Some people even try to find an explanation for such fear. For example, that mice, being close to elephants, try to gnaw on elephant heels, which are supposedly distinguished by extraordinary sensitivity, which causes wild pain and even asthma attacks in elephants.

Elephants are afraid of mice - myth or truth?

Some even argue that mice like to climb into elephants' trunks, getting almost to the very insides where they make houses and which they damage with their sharp teeth. We, perhaps, will not analyze the last statement due to its incredible absurdity generated by an extreme degree of ignorance, next to which one can only put the biblical prophet Jonah, who allegedly sat in the entrails of this plankton-eating animal for three days. But regarding the heels gnawed by mice, it is worth saying a few words to debunk, finally, this ridiculous delusion.

First, let's look at the very "thunderstorm of elephants" - mice. What was the reason that it was they who were accused of the intrigues that they allegedly inflict on these giants? Most likely, the reason is that in the cages in which elephants were kept in zoos and circuses, they saw exactly mice.

However, the mice did not drop into the elephant abode at all in order to intrigue the good-natured giants and gnaw at their fragrant heels, arranging cozy minks in their trunks.

In fact, everything is much more prosaic and mice in elephant cages are primarily interested in the remains of elephant meals. Usually these are root crops or pieces of bread, but nothing more. In fact, mice do not need more to be happy. And even if some mouse gravitating towards extreme sports would decide to look into the elephant's trunk, the elephant would very quickly and effectively blow it out of there.

In any case, it is difficult to imagine that, having a high sensitivity of the trunk, the elephant began to tolerate something extraneous in it. It is enough to recall the force with which jets of water fly out of an elephant's trunk in order to get an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwith what force a “lost rodent” would fly out of there. In view of the foregoing, it becomes clear that elephants have no reason to be afraid of mice.

In order to confirm this, an interesting experiment was even carried out. Having collected a group of elephants, scientists released several mice in front of them.

At first, these huge animals moved back a little. This is understandable, because, like any other animal, elephants prefer not to come into contact with anything unfamiliar, even if it is small.

This behavior is all the more justified, since elephants living in the wild often suffer from very small, but deadly snakes, which can, if not kill, then cripple, if not an adult elephant, then their cubs. Seeing a snake in the distance, elephants, as a rule, abruptly change direction so as not to ask for trouble. Also create a certain danger and lions, which can hunt elephants. So, despite all the power, caution, as can be seen from what has been said, is never excessive.

However, after a short retreat, the elephants got used to the society of mice and even accidentally crushed several rodents. True, some people expressed the idea that they did it deliberately and out of fear, but it will not be possible to establish this for sure. Most likely this happened by accident, but whatever the reasons for the death of the mice participating in the experiment, one thing was clear: elephants do not have any innate dislike for mice, showing only the usual caution and no more.

True, despite the fact that elephants do not experience any fear of tiny mice, there is still one small animal that can really bring an elephant to a state of panic and which, by the way, is an order of magnitude smaller than a mouse. This formidable animal is called the African honey bee.