• The thing that blew my mind most based on what I thought would happen when put to the test, was that elephants really are frightened of mice. I would have swore that was just a dumb cartoon trope and IRL the elephant wouldn’t even give a shit.

    • VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I’m pretty sure that was in the ‘yes, but also no’ category. IIRC, they don’t see very well and small fast things on the ground spook them, probably because snakes. Pick a mouse up and bring it up high enough for the elephant to get a good look at it and they’re fine with it.

      • ridago@programming.dev
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        8 months ago

        From what I remember they hypothesised that, but then put it to the test by having something else small move in front of the elephant and it didn’t care. Further confirming it was the mouse it was afraid of

    • kamenLady.@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I always had this with the story of field workers using masks in the back of their heads, in order to deter tigers from attacking from behind. I just couldn’t imagine the tiger falling for it.

      • rockerface 🇺🇦@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        A lot of animals have bright spots in the back of their heads that kinda look like eyes, to deter predators. Actually, I believe tigers themselves have fake eyes on the back of their ears

        • Gloomy@mander.xyz
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          8 months ago

          Actually, I believe tigers themselves have fake eyes on the back of their ears

          Then it’s even more embarrassing that they fell for the masked workers ;-)

    • thelasttoot@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Have you never watched mythbusters? Are we at a point in time where the Mythbusters are ancient history and not simply common knowledge? OMG what year is it? How old am I?