Elephants are the largest living land animal, and they have no reason to fear mice. In fact, elephants do not fear mice. A healthy elephant does not fear any animals. Danger comes only from man and, when elephants are in the wild, from natural disasters such as drought or fire.
Why then is it commonly believed that elephants are afraid of mice? Maybe because someone thought that a mouse might get into the elephant’s trunk and either hurt or suffocate the large animal.
Mice are often found in the stalls of captive elephants. Since elephants have such an excellent sense of smell, they know that the mice are there, but they simply pay no attention to the small creatures.
7 Comments
Mythbusters recently tested this on their show. They said plausible…honestly, I didn’t see fear from the elephants, but simply respect for another living creature – why would an animal trample over a much smaller animal on purpose?
Does such a respect actually exist generally? Or are mice simply quick and don’t get stepped on?
Personally, I try not to kill anything unless I have too.
I know, right! Why would they be afraid of a mouse? ( I am 10. )
I am 9 but my grandma said instead of crying in fear of a little mouse they would step the mouse.
why would they be afraid of mice they are HUGE!
they would step on it because elephant are mean… they hurt other animal all of time for none reason. I think that elephant was afraid. Or else the mouse would be step on it.
I think rather than fearing the mice, elephants do not want to step on them & it is difficult for them to see mice because of their size. I first theorized this when I went to a circus many years ago & watched a poor elephant trying to perform and not step in a pile of dung that another elephant had made. This is just my opinion, but who wants to step on a mouse? Or in dung?