a nimal life. The elephants spray water and mud on their bodies, especially behind their ears, to help the cooling effect. back. Some scientists also think that the big ears may funnel sound into their inner ear for better hearing. A comprehensive curriculum . But what you probably didn't realize is the fact that, amazingly, elephants don't only hear with their ears. Background notes: Animals use various ways of cooling in hot weather. They actually have the capability to hear with their feet. If just flapping of their huge ears is not enough to keep cool then African elephants will go and find water or mud to cool themselves. Other ways may include, playing or resting in the water or mud, sprinkling water or muddy water on self or on others or … Elephants can also use their big ears to make threats. When they spread them out wide, elephants look even bigger than they already are, and they can use this posture to threaten other elephants or other animals. Robin Dunkin, a researcher from University of California, Santa Cruz, USA explains that although elephants have numerous tricks they use to keep cool, such as using their enormous ears … Water & Mud Helps African Elephants Keep Cool. Not only the movements make their ears feel a little cooler but also act as fans for their own bodies, especially their heads, which are closer to the ears. heat transfers. thermoregulation : Purpose of the experiment: To compare the rate of cooling of an elephant with a mammal without large ears. How do elephants keep cool? *Please note that the answers to the first two questions are applicable to African elephants, … With their thick hides and lack of sweat glands, it has long been thought that elephants rely upon their distinctive large ears and bathing in rivers to stay cool in hot climates. And you'd be right. Their ears are big, flat and veiny. You'd probably expect elephants, with those giant, floppy ears, to have phenomenal hearing. Elephants flap their ears to lessen their body temperature, to lose some body heat and to become a little cooler.