Friday, January 16, 2026
Scientists Discover Mummified Cheetahs in Saudi Arabia Caves Dating Back 1,800 Years
Scientists have discovered mummified cheetah remains inside caves in northern Saudi Arabia, revealing new information about the region’s ancient wildlife.
Researchers made the discovery near the city of Arar, excavating seven cheetah mummies and the bones of 54 other cheetahs. Tests show the remains date from about 130 years old to more than 1,800 years old.
How the cheetahs were preserved
Mummification is a method of preserving corpses to keep them from decomposing. While Egyptian mummies are the most famous, natural mummification can also occur in environments such as desert sands, glacier ice, and bogs. Trending: Absher launches Final Exit Proof Report Service
The newly discovered cheetah mummies appear as dried-out husks, with cloudy eyes and shrunken limbs.
“It’s something that I’ve never seen before,” said Joan Madurell-Malapeira from the University of Florence in Italy, who was not involved in the research.
Scientists are still unsure how the cheetahs became mummified. However, the study suggests the caves’ dry air and stable temperatures likely played a major role in preserving the bodies. The findings were published on Thursday in the journal Communications Earth and Environment.
Why were there so many cheetahs in the caves?
Why there were so many cheetahs in the caves is also a mystery to researchers. The caves may have been a denning place, where cheetah mothers brought their young to nurse. Most Viewed: India-Saudi Arabia travel gets easier with new codeshare flights between Air India and Saudi Airlines
While rare, scientists have previously found mummified remains of other large cats, including a saber-toothed cat cub in Russia.
Why is the discovery so rare?
Large mammals rarely preserve themselves so well. Scavengers like birds and hyenas must not only avoid eating the animals' bodies but also ensure they remain intact.
What this means for cheetahs today
Cheetahs once lived across most of Africa and parts of Asia, but today they survive in only 9% of their historic range. The Arabian Peninsula has not seen them in decades, likely due to habitat loss, uncontrolled hunting, and a decline in prey.
Scientists analyzed the cheetahs' DNA, a major first for naturally mummified large cats. The genetic data shows the remains are most closely related to modern cheetahs from Asia and northwest Africa.
This discovery could help scientists with future cheetah reintroduction programs in regions where the animals no longer live. Read: Saudi Arabia fines 1.7 million riyals on 10 pharmacies
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| Scientists Discover Mummified Cheetahs in Saudi Arabia Caves Dating Back 1,800 Years |
