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Flapping ears
"When Asian elephants get too hot, they flap their ears. The cooler air flowing past the thin skin of the ears cools the blood and thus the elephant."
Discover in real lifeHabitat:
Southeast Asia
Food:
daily 120 to 150 pounds of branches, leaves, grass, fruits and roots
Lifespan:
65 years
Weight:
3,000 to 6,000 kilos
Number of young:
1 young
Gestation period:
20 to 22 months
IUCN status:
endangered
EEP:
yes
About the Asian elephant
Asian elephants live in herds consisting of adult females and their young. Males, identified by their large fangs, leave the herd when they are about six years old. They are also called bulls or bullocks. A female is called a cow. Asian elephants can reach speeds of up to 45 kilometers per hour. When they get too hot, they flap their ears. The cooler air flowing past the thin skin of the ears cools the blood and thus the elephant. Because they digest their food poorly, they need a lot of food. Elephants defecate a lot because of this, which also causes seeds to grow again in other places.
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Species conservation at Eindhoven Zoo
Did you know that more than 10,000 animal species in the world are in danger of becoming extinct? Eindhoven Zoo works with about 325 European zoos to conserve these species. We ensure healthy reserve populations through management programs (EEPs). Together we form the European Zoo Association (EAZA).
The Asian elephant in Eindhoven Zoo are part of an EEP. A coordinator keeps a studbook of the species and manages the population in zoos. Together with a committee, the coordinator gives advice on which animals are allowed to have offspring together. Sometimes that means an Asian elephant moves to another zoo. This way we increase the chance of healthy young and the survival of the species. You can recognize animal species with an EEP by the logo of a rhino with a calf.