A video capturing the sight of mice with their tails tightly intertwined in a waterlogged field in Russia has ignited fears that this phenomenon is a harbinger of a terrible disaster looming ahead.
In reality, the phenomenon of mice having their tails entwined is known as “the Mouse King,” a rare occurrence. Many believe that this is an ominous sign predicting a forthcoming plague or famine, although there is no scientific basis for this belief.
According to the Daily Star, the video was recorded by a man named Alibulat Rasulov in Russia. He witnessed five mice with their tails tightly knotted together in a waterlogged watermelon field in Stavropol, Russia.
The mice were soaked, frantically scurrying in different directions, but their tails were so entangled that they couldn’t move far.
One can observe the very tight knots at the tails of these “unfortunate” mice.
The more the mice try to escape, the tighter their tails get entangled.
Alibulat speculated that perhaps the young mice had intertwined their tails to prevent themselves from falling into the water and drowning.
Very few people have witnessed the phenomenon of the Mouse King, and the true cause behind this occurrence continues to spark intense debate among scientists. Some believe it is merely a hoax.
Another explanation that has been put forward since this phenomenon was first recorded in 1564 is that the mice may have come into contact with sticky substances like tree sap, causing their tails to adhere to one another and subsequently tighten.
When the mice realize they are bound together, they panic and try to retreat, which only causes the knots to tighten further.
Emma Burns, the curator of natural history at the Otago Museum, told Atlas Obscura that the Mouse King phenomenon could theoretically be a natural occurrence rather than a fabricated one.
According to Emma, the tails of some mice have a natural reflex to “tighten,” which can easily lead to them becoming entangled.
However, without an official scientific explanation for this phenomenon, it has historically been viewed as a bad omen for humanity, instilling profound fear.
The “Mouse King” is believed to be a portent of some horrific calamity to come, such as famine or disease. This is understandable, as mice are known carriers of many dreadful diseases.
Mouse Kings that are discovered are often killed immediately or taken by priests for purification rituals.
The largest Mouse King in the world, displayed at the Mauritanium Science Museum in Altenburg, Germany.
Today, there are still some Mouse Kings on display in museums around the world. For instance, the Mauritanium Science Museum in Altenburg, Germany, houses the largest Mouse King, consisting of 32 black mice tightly bound together.