10 Reasons Why The Lost City Of Atlantis EXISTS In West Africa
4. The Atlanteans Were Fond Of Their Elephants
Plato mentions that there were a great number of elephants present on the island, so it comes as no surprise that the surrounding area contains skeletal remains of elephants, along with a surprising number of rock paintings of elephants in the region. While it may seem insignificant, this is a fairly important detail because other hypothesized locations of Atlantis (such as the island of Pharos and Antarctica) are not known to possess an abundance of elephants.
Savannah elephants, which are the larger of the two African elephant species, occur in and around West Africa. Their tusks are larger and more curved than other species of the African elephant. Unfortunately, the ivory trade in West Africa has led to a severe drop in the elephant population of Mauritania, which has almost disappeared since 1989. A ban on international trade in ivory exists, but large numbers of elephants are still killed every year for their tusks, meat, and skin.
As humans continue to claim more areas for agriculture and development, our presence will continue to pose a threat to the survival of the species.