2,000-Year-Old Cheetah Found in Saudi Cave Offers New Hope

Deep in the Lauga caves of northern Saudi Arabia, researchers found something extraordinary: seven perfectly preserved mummified cheetahs that could help restore a lost piece of the region's natural heritage.

The discovery happened during a routine cave exploration near the city of Arar in 2022 and 2023. Researchers from the National Center for Wildlife found the mummified remains alongside 54 cheetah skeletons, with the oldest bones dating back 4,000 years.

The dry, cool cave environment kept the cheetahs so well preserved that scientists could extract complete DNA sequences from three specimens. This marked the first time anyone has successfully pulled genetic material from naturally mummified big cats.

What they found surprised everyone. The ancient cheetahs were closely related to Northwest African cheetahs, a subspecies still alive today in the Sahara and Sahel regions, not just the Asiatic cheetahs scientists expected.

Cheetahs vanished from the Arabian Peninsula by the 1970s due to hunting, habitat loss, and disappearing prey. Their population across Asia has plummeted by 98% over thousands of years.

The Bright Side

This discovery opens a new door for bringing cheetahs back home. About 400 Northwest African cheetahs still exist in the wild and in captivity, giving conservationists a realistic option for reintroduction efforts.

The genetic connection matters because it expands the available gene pool for reintroduction programs. Instead of relying only on the critically endangered Asiatic cheetahs from Iran, scientists can now work with the more accessible Northwest African subspecies.

The research team believes their DNA extraction method could help reintroduce other extinct species worldwide. Ancient remains in similar preservation conditions might hold keys to restoring ecosystems that have lost their native animals.

Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in wildlife conservation in recent years. This discovery gives those efforts scientific backing and a clear path forward.

The cheetahs that once roamed the Arabian Peninsula for millennia may soon return, thanks to clues hidden in a cave for nearly two thousand years.