Researchers uncover rare mummified cheetahs in Saudi Arabia

Researchers in Saudi Arabia have identified seven naturally mummified cheetahs in caves near the northern city of Arar, a discovery that is reshaping scientific understanding of the species' history on the Arabian Peninsula and informing plans for potential reintroduction.

The remains were found during wildlife surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023 by the National Center for Wildlife. Preserved skeletons and soft tissue were attributed to hyper-arid cave conditions, says CNN.

Ahmed Al Boug, lead author of the study, ecologist researcher and deputy CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said: "This finding represents the first documented case of natural mummification in cheetahs, and first physical evidence that cheetah subspecies occurred in the Arabian Peninsula."

He added that the context of the discovery was also unusual. "Moreover, cave use by cheetahs is extremely atypical behavior, making both the discovery itself and the context in which it occurred entirely unexpected."

DNA analysis of three of the mummified specimens showed that two of the oldest animals were genetically closer to the Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki), rather than solely to the Asiatic cheetah subspecies, which had previously been thought to be the only lineage present in Saudi Arabia.

"This discovery is significant in that it represents the easternmost record of an African cheetah subspecies and demonstrates that northern Saudi Arabia was occupied by multiple cheetah lineages over millennia," Al Boug said. "Together, these findings refine our understanding of cheetah landscape use, clarify timelines of regional extirpation, and improve resolution on the subspecies historically present in this region."

Adrian Tordiffe, a veterinary wildlife specialist and lecturer at South Africa's University of Pretoria, said the genetic findings were notable. "Even more striking is that the remains show different subspecies of cheetahs lived there at different times."

"This tells us the Arabian Peninsula was once an important natural bridge for cheetahs, not an ecological dead end," he said.

Cheetahs were considered locally extinct in Saudi Arabia from the 1970s. However, radiocarbon dating indicates that some of the mummified remains are about 100 years old, suggesting the species survived in the wild more recently than previously believed. Other skeletal remains found in the same caves date back as far as 4,000 years.

The presence of both adult and juvenile animals among the remains indicates that cheetahs were breeding in the region over an extended period.

"The remains also include young animals and adults, showing that cheetahs weren't just passing through, they were breeding and thriving," Tordiffe said.

Researchers said the findings have strengthened the scientific basis for reintroducing cheetahs to Saudi Arabia.

"Because we now know which cheetah lineages lived in Arabia, reintroduction efforts can focus on using animals that are ecologically appropriate, rather than bringing in cheetahs from completely different environments," Tordiffe said. "This research turns cheetah reintroduction from a hopeful idea into a well-informed plan based on real evidence."

Laurie Marker, founder and executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, said the long-term presence of the species in the region was significant.

"Showing the length of time the cheetah lived in Saudi Arabia shows that they were an important part of the ecosystem and not just passing through," she said.

"Cheetahs and other top predators play important roles in the ecosystem... where we find top predators there is a greater amount of biodiversity as they feed the other small mammals, birds and insects," Marker added.

"As the Saudis are bringing back their wildlife species, the cheetah will be an important addition to rewilding, bringing back a healthy ecosystem to the desert once again."