Mythbusters: Are elephants afraid of mice?

Summary

In this MythBusters episode, the team investigates the myth that elephants are afraid of mice. They travel to Africa, where they set up an experiment involving a mouse and a ball of elephant dung to test the reaction of semi-habituated elephants. Surprisingly, the elephants back away from the mouse, suggesting a cautious fear response. After multiple tests, the team confirms that while the elephants don’t panic, they do avoid the mouse. The myth is deemed plausible, showing that even the smallest creatures can cause unexpected reactions in large animals.

Takeaways

• 😀 Musophobia refers to a fear of mice, one of the most common phobias.
• 😀 The MythBusters team sets out to test the myth that elephants are afraid of mice.
• 😀 They plan to conduct the experiment in Africa, with real wild elephants, unlike the more controlled environment of zoos.
• 😀 To test the myth, the team improvises a mouse delivery system using elephant dung.
• 😀 The team’s expectation is that the elephant won’t react to the mouse, thinking it's too small to be of any concern.
• 😀 To their surprise, when the mouse is exposed, the elephant backs away, avoiding it.
• 😀 The MythBusters team initially assumes the elephant's reaction is due to the movement of the dung, rather than the mouse itself.
• 😀 The team repeats the test, removing the dung and just exposing the mouse. The elephant still reacts cautiously.
• 😀 The final test proves that the elephant is indeed aware of the mouse, showing caution and avoiding it.
• 😀 The MythBusters conclude that the myth of elephants being afraid of mice is plausible, with the elephant reacting cautiously to the mouse, but not in an exaggerated, cartoonish way.

Q & A

What is musophobia, as mentioned in the script?

Musophobia is the fear of mice, which is one of the most common phobias in the world.

What myth is being tested in this segment of MythBusters?

The myth being tested is whether elephants are afraid of mice.

What was the team's initial hypothesis about elephants and mice?

The team initially believed that the elephant would not react to the mouse due to its small size.

Where did the MythBusters team go to test this myth?

The team went to Africa to observe and test the myth with real wild elephants.

Why did the team want to use a wild elephant for the test instead of one from a circus?

The team wanted to use a wild elephant because circus elephants are trained, and they wanted a more natural, untrained response.

How did the team set up the test to introduce the mouse to the elephants?

The team created a 'mouse delivery system' using a ball of elephant dung to hide the mouse, then used a monofilament line to roll it towards the elephant.

What was the team's expectation when the elephant first approached the dung with the mouse?

The team expected the elephant to ignore the mouse, similar to how a person might ignore a fly on the ground.

What was the surprising reaction of the elephant when it encountered the mouse?

To the team's surprise, the elephant stopped in its tracks and gently backed away from the mouse, showing clear caution.

What did the team initially suspect caused the elephant's reaction during the test?

The team initially thought that the movement of the dung, rather than the mouse itself, might have caused the elephant's reaction.

How did the team confirm that the elephant was reacting to the mouse and not just the dung movement?

The team conducted a follow-up test where they moved the dung without the mouse inside, and the elephant did not react, confirming it was the mouse that caused the response.

What was the final conclusion about the myth after all tests were completed?

The final conclusion was that the myth is plausible—elephants are indeed cautious around mice, though not to the extent that popular culture suggests (like causing stampedes).