Ahmed Boug et al./Communications Earth & Environment
In addition to the seven cheetah mummies, another 54 remains of these animals, which have long been extinct in the region, were discovered.
A new published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment reports the discovery of seven cheetah mummies in a cave in the Saudi desert that will be between 100 and 4000 years old.
In addition to the seven naturally mummified cheetahs, the remains of at least 54 others were also found in a network of caves in northern Saudi Arabia. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into the evolutionary history, ecology and decline of a species that is now extinct in the region.
The remains were found in the Lauga grotto systemnear Arar, next to the border between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Along with the cheetah remains, scientists also discovered bones of animals that served as prey, helping to reconstruct the way these predators lived in an environment they inhabited for thousands of years.
Today, the Cheetahs lost about 91% of their area of historical distribution throughout the world, surviving mainly in fragmented populations in Africa. The Asiatic cheetah, which was once widely distributed across the Middle East, is now critically endangered, with only around 50 to 70 individuals remaining in Iran, reports the .
Radiocarbon dating has revealed that cheetah remains span a remarkable period of time. The oldest mummy dates back to more than 4200 years agowhile the youngest is just 127 years old. According to the researchers, this wide age range demonstrates that cheetahs occupied the region continuously for millennia, rather than appearing in isolated periods.
Analysis of the skulls and bones revealed a large number of young animals, including cubs and subadults, suggesting that cheetahs bred in the area. Genetic testing has brought new surprises. While some remains were closely related to the Asiatic cheetah, others showed genetic links to the northwest African cheetah, a subspecies also absent from Arabia. This indicates that the region has historically home to multiple lineages of cheetahrather than a single isolated population.
The cheetahs were preserved naturally by the hot, dry conditions in the caves, which slowed decomposition. Although caves are not commonly used by modern cheetahs, researchers believe the animals were able to freely enter and exit the cave system, possibly using it as a shelter or den. The idea that the animals died after falling into natural traps was considered unlikely, given the presence of multiple accessible entrances.
The discoveries are significant not only for understanding the past, but also for formulating future conservation strategies. By demonstrating that Saudi Arabia has hosted several cheetah populations for long periods, the study expands options for potential reintroduction or rewilding programs in the region.
