While elephants once roamed across North Africa, including parts of modern-day Morocco, there are no wild elephants present in the country today. Their disappearance is a historical event tied to environmental shifts and human activities over centuries. This article explores the past presence of these animals in Morocco, the reasons behind their vanishing, and where elephants are found globally today.
Morocco’s Elephant History
An extinct subspecies, often referred to as the North African elephant, once inhabited regions north of the Sahara Desert, extending into areas that are now Morocco. This elephant, scientifically known as Loxodonta africana pharaohensis, was either a subspecies of the African bush elephant or potentially a distinct species. Historical accounts and archaeological findings suggest its range included coastal areas of North Africa, with elephant remains identified in places like Tetouan, Morocco.
These elephants were smaller than the African savanna elephants found today, measuring about 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) at the shoulder. Their relatively lighter and more agile build made them suitable for the varied terrain of the region. They gained historical prominence as the war elephants used by Carthage during the Punic Wars against the Roman Republic.
Why Elephants Vanished from Morocco
The extinction of the North African elephant, occurring around the 4th century AD, resulted from a combination of factors. Extensive hunting played a significant role, driven by the demand for ivory and the capture of elephants for use in Roman circuses and spectacles. During the reign of Augustus, an estimated 3,500 elephants were killed in Roman games alone, contributing to their decline.
Human expansion also led to significant habitat loss. As human populations grew, land was converted for agriculture and settlements, reducing their natural habitat. This fragmentation restricted their movement and access to resources. Regional climate changes, potentially leading to increased desertification, may have further pressured elephant populations by altering their environment.
Global Elephant Distribution Today
Today, African elephants are found exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa, contrasting sharply with their historical presence across North Africa. There are two recognized species: the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). These two species were recently assessed separately by the IUCN Red List, with the savanna elephant listed as Endangered and the forest elephant as Critically Endangered.
African savanna elephants are the largest terrestrial animals and inhabit a variety of environments, including grasslands and bushlands across 23 countries in Southern and Eastern Africa. Forest elephants, which are smaller and darker, primarily live in the dense tropical forests of Central and West Africa. While their populations have faced declines due to poaching and habitat loss, conservation efforts aim to protect the remaining approximately 415,000 African elephants in the wild.