Elephant Habitat, Use and Extinction History in the Canaan Region (Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Syria): A Zoological and Forestry Survey

This study examines the historical presence, ecological functions, and extinction of elephants in the Canaan region, encompassing modern-day Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, through an interdisciplinary zoological and forestry-based survey. Drawing on archaeological records, paleontological findings, historical texts, and ecological reconstructions, the research explores how elephants once inhabited and shaped the Levantine landscapes. The paper examines their role as keystone herbivores, their integration into regional cultures through trade, warfare, and symbolism, and their eventual disappearance due to climatic shifts, deforestation, and anthropogenic pressures. Cultural memory of elephants, preserved in religious scriptures and place names, offers insights into human–animal relations and the ecological consciousness of ancient societies. The study highlights how lessons from the extinction of elephants can inform current biodiversity strategies, forest management, and conservation outreach in the Levant. It also proposes future research directions, including ecological rewilding, public education, and regional conservation collaboration. By contextualising elephants within the broader environmental history of the region, the study underscores the importance of integrating lost megafauna into modern ecological narratives.