Caves in Saudi Arabia reveal mummified cheetahs preserved for 1,800 years

This undated photograph, provided by Communications Earth and Environment, shows a cheetah preserved through natural mummification. (Image: Ahmed Boug/Communications Earth and Environment via AP)

Researchers in northern Saudi Arabia have uncovered naturally mummified cheetahs, some dating back 1,800 years, in caves near Arar. The discovery includes seven preserved mummies and bones of at least 54 others. DNA analysis shows they are related to modern Asian and northwest African cheetahs. The findings shed light on Arabia’s lost wildlife, reveal how extreme environments preserve large animals, and could inform future conservation or reintroduction efforts for the species that has long disappeared from the region.

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Scientists in Saudi Arabia have discovered centuries-old cheetah mummies inside northern caves, offering unprecedented insight into the region’s vanished wildlife and how large animals can survive harsh desert conditions over time. The discovery near the city of Arar includes both naturally preserved cheetahs and skeletal remains, shedding light on species once widespread across the Arabian Peninsula.

Cheetah mummies and preservation

Researchers excavated seven mummified cheetahs along with bones of at least 54 others, according to a study published in Communications Earth and Environment. The remains range in age from about 130 years to more than 1,800 years old.

Mummification slowed tissue decay, preserving the animals’ features in remarkable detail. Unlike human mummies of Egypt, these animals were naturally preserved in dry desert caves. Scientists believe the caves’ stable temperatures and dry air created ideal conditions. The cheetahs’ cloudy eyes and shrivelled limbs give them the appearance of dried husks. “It’s something that I’ve never seen before,” said Joan Madurell-Malapeira of the University of Florence, who was not involved in the study.

Why cheetahs ended up in caves

Researchers are still exploring why so many cheetahs gathered in these caves. One possibility is that the caves served as dens for mothers and cubs. Another is that sick or injured animals sought shelter there. Discovering large mammals preserved so completely is rare, as carcasses must avoid scavengers such as birds and hyenas. Study author Ahmed Boug of the National Center for Wildlife said, “To find such intact evidence of cheetahs that lived long ago in this part of the world is entirely without precedent.”

Implications for conservation and genetics

Cheetahs once ranged across Africa and parts of Asia, including Arabia, but today occupy only about 9% of their historical range. The species has not been seen in Arabia for decades due to overhunting, habitat loss, and declining prey. For the first time, researchers successfully extracted genetic material from naturally mummified large cats. DNA analysis showed the cheetahs were closely related to modern Asian and northwest African populations. These findings could guide future conservation measures or possible reintroduction programmes.

The discovery provides a rare glimpse into Arabia’s historical wildlife and demonstrates how extreme environments can preserve large species over centuries.