Scientists have excavated the mummified remains of seven cheetahs — along with bones from 54 others — from caves in northern Saudi Arabia, in a find a study author described as “entirely without precedent” for the species. The remains, uncovered near the city of Arar, range in age from approximately 130 years to more than 1,800 years old.
The discovery, published Thursday in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, also yielded the first genetic data ever extracted from naturally mummified large cats — data researchers said could inform future reintroduction efforts for a species that has not been spotted on the Arabian Peninsula for decades.
“It’s something that I’ve never seen before,” said Joan Madurell-Malapeira, a researcher with the University of Florence who was not involved in the study.
A scientific first for mummified large cats
In a first for naturally mummified large cats, researchers were able to extract and analyze genetic material from the remains. That analysis showed the ancient cheetahs were most similar to modern-day cheetahs living in Asia and northwest Africa.
Ahmed Boug of the National Center for Wildlife in Saudi Arabia, one of the study’s authors, called the intact evidence “entirely without precedent.”
Researchers said the genetic information could help guide future efforts to reintroduce cheetahs to regions where they no longer live. Cheetahs once roamed across most of Africa and parts of Asia but now occupy just 9% of their previous range, a contraction attributed to habitat loss, unregulated hunting, and loss of prey. The animals have not been spotted anywhere on the Arabian Peninsula for decades.
Caves, conditions, and a possible nursery
The mummies display cloudy eyes and shriveled limbs. Researchers said the caves’ dry conditions and stable temperatures may have played a role in preserving the carcasses, though the exact mechanism of mummification remains under investigation.
Scientists also said they do not yet know why so many cheetahs were concentrated at the site. One hypothesis is that the caves served as a denning location where mothers birthed and raised their young.
It is uncommon for large mammals to be preserved to such a degree. Beyond requiring the right environmental conditions, carcasses must also avoid scavengers such as birds and hyenas. Scientists have previously found mummified saber-toothed cat cubs in Russia, but documented cases of naturally mummified large cats remain rare.