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July 25, 2008

Strange But True!

Q. Just what may come of a sneezing elephant's “jumbochoo”? a) a face-drenching shower of pachyderm mucus b) a big wind like a hurricane forced through a flailing fire hose c) kids thrown out of the zoo d) an elephantine crop-raid deterred?

A. Under the right circumstances, any of the above, as noted in “New Scientist” magazine. One Botswana writer told of frequently enjoying the African nights by sleeping under mosquito netting rather than a tent. “You can wind up being investigated by lions, hyenas, hippos and elephants, which can be quite exciting.” Then one time a friend of his awoke and, unable to see the stars, assumed it had clouded over. Suddenly he realized he was looking up at an elephant's underside, with the animal sniffing him through the net. Without warning the trunk spewed out a faceful of mucus, much as a dog, cat or human might do to remove foreign or excess material from the nasal passages.


 
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