• Question: Why are elephants affraid of mice?

    Asked by akukharuk99 to Kevin on 15 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 15 Jun 2012:

      I blame Disney for spreading this myth! Currently, there is no solid evidence of rodent-phobia among any of the mammals, including our friend the elephant.

      However, elephants have been shown to be very aversive to ants! This is because they climb up their snouts, which are highly sensitive!

Comments

  • Photo: Jo

    Jo commented on :

    I suspect that if they are then it is for the same reason as they may be scared of Ants as Kevin has said,, however I don’t see how they can be when there are so many mice about and elephants are so tall they may not even spot a tiny little mouse!

  • Photo: anna1999

    anna1999 commented on :

    I saw on QI that somewhere, I think it was China, used to have a game that was similar to rock paper scissors. It was human elephant ant, elephant beats human, human beats ant and ant beats elephant.