In 2022 and 2023, researchers from the National Center for Wildlife in Saudi Arabia discovered seven naturally mummified cheetahs in five caves near the northern city of Arar. The remains, which included well-preserved soft tissue and skeletons, were largely intact. Subsequent DNA analysis of three of the mummies revealed that two of the oldest specimens were genetically closer to the Northwest African cheetah subspecies (Acinonyx jubatus hecki), challenging the previous belief that only the Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) had inhabited the region. This finding, published in January in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, indicates that at least two cheetah subspecies once roamed the Arabian Peninsula.

The discovery of multiple cheetah lineages in the peninsula, along with the presence of young and adult individuals, suggests that cheetahs were not merely passing through but were breeding and thriving in the area. Lead author Ahmed Al Boug noted that the cave environment and its hyper-arid conditions contributed to the mummification of the cheetahs, and the researchers are investigating the reasons behind the cheetahs’ use of the caves. The findings refine understanding of cheetah landscape use, clarify timelines of regional extirpation, and provide valuable evidence for potential cheetah reintroduction efforts in the Arabian Peninsula. External experts, such as Adrian Tordiffe, emphasized that the discovery demonstrates the peninsula’s historical role as a natural bridge for cheetahs and offers clear guidance for ecologically appropriate reintroduction strategies.

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