In May, 218 BC, Hannibal left Spain with an army of about 90000 men and 37 elephants,which he believed were needed to get them over the mountains. In the next few months under his inspiring leadership,they marched through Spain to the Pyrenees and then to the South of France. They moved about 16 kilometres a day,and were frequently attacked by local tribesmen. They reached the River Rhon and accomplished the unbelievable task of building huge rafts to ferry the elephant across .Some fell off but managed to swim using their trunks as snorkels.It was now autumn, and snow started to fall as they approached the Alps. The army, helped by the elephant, struggled on, slipping over ice and snow ,over the main pass. Finally, they were in sight of Italy. Their five-month journey at an end, Hanibal'army of 90000 was reduced to 36000-over half his men had perished or deserted on the way. Winter storms now killed all but one of his elephants.