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There's so many holes in the sources and presumption of the behalf of older researchers. Period accounts mention the search for the largest elephants.Africa is just a mass of trade routes. It's just not realistic to assume that 'word' of the Blokes Up North with the big cheque books are on the look out for big elephants.Even if you skip a little further forward or indeed backwards and you have both Egypt and Rome buying in big game from the heart of Africa.Or simply look North You've items of of North African origin in the archeological record of England and France in the same period.I prefer the simple and honest approach to trade in the ancient world and pre history .If there's people then there's contact and if there's contact then there's trade and or conflict.Trade is more preferable to conflict. Because beating to death everyone you meet isn't a long term survival solution.So if theres a Demand and there's money then there will be a supply. Distance isn't an issue if it was we wouldn't drinking tea and eating chocolate.
Casino meaning, I'd guess, 'crap shoot'?
perhaps the 'North African' elephant and the extant Forest Elephant of West Africa were related species. or even the same species and the geographic range spread farther east and north in ancient times than today.