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How did Scipio Africanus neutralize Hannibal’s war elephants at the Battle of Zama?

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Scipio Africanus Silver coin from Carthago Nova, believed to be a portrait of Scipio Africanus the Elder; in the Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, National Museum, Copenhagen.

At the Battle of Zama in 202 BCE, Scipio Africanus effectively neutralized Hannibal’s 80 war elephants through a combination of tactical preparation and the animals' lack of training.12

Scipio’s primary strategy involved arranging his infantry in maniples—small, flexible units—with broad, open corridors between them. He trained his soldiers to move aside when the elephants charged, allowing the beasts to pass harmlessly through these alleys rather than engaging them directly.21

Additionally, the Roman forces utilized loud shouts and blaring trumpets to disorient the animals. This noise, combined with the lack of proper training among the elephants, caused many of them to swerve early and retreat into the ranks of the Carthaginian infantry, creating chaos among Hannibal’s own troops. These maneuvers successfully minimized the elephants' impact, preventing them from breaking the Roman lines.21