*You are in the forested savannas of Africa,

The air near the Pleistocene riverbank was thick with mist, a contrast to the dry savanna beyond. You crouched behind the thick bark of a Mediterranean evergreen tree, shivering slightly, when the ground began a rhythmic vibration.

Through the branches, it emerged—a towering form dwarfing the familiar steppe mammoths. This was a Palaeoloxodon.

It was magnificent—at least four meters at the shoulder, with straight, massive tusks extending forward, distinct from the curved tusks of other proboscideans. The creature paused, its trunk snapping a heavy branch with ease to browse rather than graze, browsing being its preference in this temperate, forested setting. It seemed completely aware of its power, a true titan that knew no natural predators. As it turned its head toward your hiding spot, you felt the sheer awe and terror of being a small human in the presence of a giant…