JAKARTA, May 15 (Bloomberg): Ancient paintings of humans and animals made between 25,000 and 45,000 years ago in Indonesia are deteriorating fast because of climate change. Seasonal rainfall, combined with increasing drought, is threatening the conservation of cave art in the Maros-Pangkep site on the island of Sulawesi, researchers led by archaeologist Jillian Huntley said in a paper published in Nature on Thursday. The area is home to the oldest known hand stencil and to possibly the earliest narrative scene in prehistoric art. Man-made climate change is leading to more frequent and severe episodes of El Nino, a Pacific Ocean phenomenon that raises temperatures. Increasing drought and monsoon rains provide ideal conditions for salts and minerals to crystallize on the limestone caves where paintings have survived thousands of years.