Elephants produce a rumbling alarm call that warns of the threat of approaching bees, scientists have found.
The researchers also discovered that the elephants retreated when a recording of the call was played - even when there were no bees nearby.
The study was led by Lucy King of the University of Oxford and the charity Save the Elephants.
She believes that such calls may be an emotional response to a threat and a way to co-ordinate group movements.
Ms King explained: We discovered elephants not only flee from the buzzing sound, but make a unique rumbling call, as well as shaking their heads.
Despite their immense size and thick hides, elephants are afraid of bees. Adults can be stung around their eyes or inside their trunks, whilst calves could potentially be killed by a swarm of stinging bees as they have yet to develop a thick protective skin.
Link with video: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8639545.stm
The researchers also discovered that the elephants retreated when a recording of the call was played - even when there were no bees nearby.
The study was led by Lucy King of the University of Oxford and the charity Save the Elephants.
She believes that such calls may be an emotional response to a threat and a way to co-ordinate group movements.
Ms King explained: We discovered elephants not only flee from the buzzing sound, but make a unique rumbling call, as well as shaking their heads.
Despite their immense size and thick hides, elephants are afraid of bees. Adults can be stung around their eyes or inside their trunks, whilst calves could potentially be killed by a swarm of stinging bees as they have yet to develop a thick protective skin.
Link with video: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8639545.stm
