Why do elephants have big ears?
Large, flappable ears help these huge animals to cool off, although elephants often must retreat to the shade or water during the hottest part of the day. African elephants’ ears, larger than those of Asian elephants, can be up to six feet long and four feet wide. When they flap and blood flows , they can lower blood temperature by as much as five degrees Celsius (nine degrees Fahrenheit). Of course, elephants’ ears are also used to hear.
