The subject of ‘elephant and mice’ is one that has been around for centuries.
It may be one of those age-old adages, but it certainly does have a degree of truth to it.
Elephants are afraid of mice!
Why? Is it because mice have a very sharp set of teeth? Or are they afraid because elephants are so big and mice are so small?
Maybe it’s because elephants are afraid of the dark, having lived in dark forests for generations, while mice have evolved to thrive in burrows beneath the earth.
Or maybe elephants just happen to find that one mouse squeak is enough to send them scurrying for miles.
Why Elephants are Afraid of Mice
The simple answer is no one really knows why elephants are afraid of mice, but there are many theories that have been proposed to attempt to explain this ancient mystery.
When it comes down to the basics, elephants just aren’t fans of rodents.
For whatever reason, they do not like mice whatsoever and will go to great lengths in order to avoid them.
What is it about these tiny little creatures that make elephants want nothing to do with them?
Is it the size difference?
Or is it a natural instinct that compels elephants to steer clear for their own safety?
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that elephants are highly intelligent creatures, and perhaps they realize how dangerous mice could be if they were ever to meet one face-to-face.
The chaos that would ensue from an elephant actually becoming physically attached to a mouse is certainly unimaginable!
Many people may say this is far-fetched, but try to think of the last time you saw mice scurrying about in an elephant enclosure.
That’s right, you didn’t!
What Do Elephants Do?
Not only do elephants tend to steer clear of mice, but they also take great pains to make sure there are no signs of any mice anywhere near them.
And not just out of fear; elephants are very meticulous creatures that will go to great lengths to keep their environment clean and tidy.
This really makes one wonder just what elephants would think of mice if the roles were reversed…
Would they be intimidated?
Would they want nothing to do with them?
Or would they just let curiosity get the best of them?
Whatever the case, it’s definitely safe to say elephants are not fans of mice.
It is also pretty clear that elephants will stop at nothing in order to ensure they never come in contact with these rodents.
Ancient Relationship of Elephant & Mouse
Maybe it has something to do with their history; many ancient cultures believed that mice were capable of bringing down elephants or even devouring them entirely.
Hence the phrase ‘mouse eaten elephant’.
So it’s not hard to see why elephants carry this superstition with them, ensuring they never see eye-to-eye with a mouse.
Although we may never know what goes on in the mind of an elephant, it is certainly clear that elephants will spring into action at the first sign of mice nearby.
It’s almost like they are expecting disaster to strike.
After all, if one tiny mouse can bring down an elephant with its sharp set of teeth, what could a whole herd of them possibly do?
So why are elephants afraid of mice?
The answer may have something to do with their natural instinct to keep themselves safe.
Perhaps they realize that they are not capable of defeating an army of mice, so the only thing left for them to do is run.
Let’s face it; no one wants to be on the wrong side of a mouse.
They are extremely powerful, agile little creatures that could cause some pretty major damage if given the chance.
And while elephants may never face mice in a battle for survival, it is clear they do not intend to take any risks.
That could be because they already know; even just one encounter with a mouse could spell trouble for an elephant.
Check out our other animal FAQs here:
- Why Are Hippos So Aggressive?
- Why Do Rabbits Thump?
- Why Do Bears Hibernate?
