Elephants laughed at rats because the rats in the children's story promised to help the elephants.
The elephants found that the idea of tiny rats being able to help them as large elephants was amusing.
The scenario is also often part of a narrative, in which the elephants learn a lesson, about friendship and that even small creatures can also be helpful.
The laughter also stems from the perceived disparity in size and strength between the rats and elephants.
Bees are what elephants fear the most.
Elephants fear bees so much that they actually have a special alarm call to warn the herd of elephants about bees.
Elephants are also very vulnerable to bee stings, especially around their eyes and their trunks and they can also recognize the sounds and even the pheromones which are chemical signals of bees that cause them to flee.
It's also a misconception that elephants are afraid of mice, but in reality elephants don't fear mice.
While elephants may react to the sudden movements of a mouse, the elephant is not actually afraid of the mice and instead it's just a startled reaction that is due to surprise and not fear.
Elephants are often grey in color, although an elephants color can also vary from light grey in color to a grayish-black color.
And some African elephants might even appear to be brown or reddish after they roll in the mud.
And Asian elephants will often have patches of depigmentation, especially on their head.
Elephants are mainly known for their grey skin, but like mentioned above they can vary in color.
African elephants are more a dull, brownish-grey color.
Asian elephants are predominantly grey in color, but they can also have the patches of depigmentation which most particularly is on the head of the elephant but can also appear on the elephants ears and trunk.
Elephants often also take mud baths and roll in mud, which can also change the elephants apparent color.
And African elephants, in particular, may also appear to be reddish or brown after they wallow in the colored mud.
Elephants are also covered in sparse, bristly hairs, which can also affect the elephants overall appearance.
And the specific shade of grey color of elephants can also vary depending on the individual elephant and their environment.