Absence of Elephants in the Middle East

[Potto]

Does anyone know if Elephants have ever lived in the Middle East and gone extinct, or have they always be absent from this region? I can't find any information on the internet. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jbnbsn99]

Yes. Asian Elephant used to be found in the Middle East. There was a Syrian subspecies. [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Elephant]Syrian Elephant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

 

[DDcorvus]

And do not forget that also North Africa had it's elephants but then from the African species.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

And do not forget that also North Africa had it's elephants but then from the African species.

Northern Africa was actually the spawning ground of all evolutionary modern age elephant species, including Elephas and Mammuthus primigenius (woolly mammoth).