Overview
- Fieldwork in five caves near Arar in 2022–2023 uncovered seven naturally mummified cheetahs alongside skeletal remains of 54 other cats.
- Radiocarbon dating places the mummified cheetahs between roughly 130 and 1,870 years old, with additional cat remains extending to about 4,000 years ago.
- Scientists recovered complete genome sequences from three mummies, reported as the first such achievement for naturally mummified big cats.
- Genetic results show the most recent specimen is closest to the Asiatic cheetah, while two older individuals align with the Northwest African subspecies.
- The peer-reviewed study in Communications Earth & Environment says broader subspecies sourcing could bolster any Saudi reintroduction and that the methods can inform other conservation efforts.