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Image Credit: Ahmed Boug/Communications Earth and Environment via AP
Mummified Cheetahs Discovered in Northern Saudi Arabia
Scientists have uncovered naturally mummified cheetahs in caves in northern Saudi Arabia, providing rare evidence of cheetah populations that once lived across the Arabian Peninsula. The finds include seven mummified individuals and the bones of 54 additional cheetahs, dating from about 130 years to more than 1,800 years ago.
The discoveries were made near the city of Arar. Researchers believe the exceptional preservation resulted from the caves’ dry conditions and stable temperatures, which can naturally halt decay. Such preservation is extremely uncommon for large mammals, which typically decompose or are consumed by scavengers.
The cheetah mummies show clouded eyes and desiccated limbs, forming husk-like remains. While the exact reason so many animals accumulated in the caves remains unclear, researchers suggest the area may have served as a denning site, possibly used by females to give birth and raise young.
The study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, also reports genetic analysis of the remains. The ancient cheetahs were found to be most closely related to modern Asian cheetahs and populations from northwest Africa, marking the first time genetic data has been recovered from naturally mummified large cats.
Cheetahs once ranged across much of Africa and Asia, but today occupy only a small fraction of their former distribution and have not been recorded in the Arabian Peninsula for decades. The new findings document a previously unknown chapter in the region’s ecological history and may offer valuable context for future conservation and potential reintroduction efforts.
Published on: 16-01-2026
Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie
Source: Associated Press