象起象落 Extinction of Elephants

象骨屋Mammoth Bone Dwellings (Mammoths Huts)
大約在2萬多年前，史前人與長毛象相遇！在人類所居住的洞窟裡，長毛象的身影，清晰地刻畫在洞窟石壁上，包括了捲曲的長牙、高聳的背脊、披覆的長毛、細突的鼻尖。

人類利用長毛象的骨頭搭建小屋，厚重的頭骨與肢骨用來架設地基，屋頂用較細的肢骨與肋骨搭建，獸皮掛在屋頂上作為遮蔽，一對象牙則是用來做小屋的入口，或當成屋頂的支撐。這些骨骸是來自人類的大量獵殺？還是取材自天然死亡的骨骸或化石？是否因為人類的過度獵殺而造成長毛象滅絕？科學家還在追尋答案。

史前人類為了生存、為了食物、為了造屋而獵殺長毛象。今日的人類已經沒有任何理由，持續獵殺亞洲象與非洲象了，反而更應該積極的關心與保育現生的大象。

Around 20 thousand years ago, man coexisted with woolly mammoths. Paintings of woolly mammoths can be clearly seen on cave walls. Their curved tusks, high ridge, long hair, and the pointy tip of their trunks were all depicted thoroughly.

Humans build huts with mammoth bones. Different bone parts are used in different ways. Limb bones set up the foundation, ribs make the roof, the hide cover the structure up, and a pair of ivory make up the entrance doorway. Scientists have yet to find out if these bones come from natural deaths or if mammoths were hunted down. It also leads to another question, are humans the cause of their extinction?

Prehistoric humans hunted mammoths out of necessity. They needed food and shelter. Modern humans have completely no reason for needing to hunt elephants. Hence, we need to actively protect and conserve our modern elephants even more.