I have a question and I am hoping any of you knows the answer. Where did Hannibal get his elephants? With the Sahara-desert being hard to cross, almost impossible in those days, I really wonder where he got them from.

maybe elements of answer here :
http://www.barca.fsnet.co.uk/elephant-war.htm

Loxodonta africana cyclotis - the African Forest Elephant

The Numidians used African forest elephants in battle. Many of these animals were captured in the woods of the Atlas mountains. These relatively small animals could not carry a tower, they were ridden by a crew of two or three men. The Mahout controlled the animal, and the other two men were armed with bow and arrows, or javelins.

Which could explain why the Romans thought the Asian Elephants to be bigger than their African cousins .

Thank you.