Naturally-mummified cheetah remains discovered in Saudi Arabia provide an unprecedented genetic resource that could bolster efforts to reintroduce the critically endangered big cat to its former range. The find, detailed in a new study published in Communications Earth & Environment, includes seven exceptionally well-preserved specimens from caves near the city of Arar, alongside skeletal remains of dozens of other wild cats.
The Decline of the Arabian Cheetah
Cheetahs once thrived across Africa and Asia, but their Asian populations have plummeted by 98% over millennia. The Arabian Peninsula represents a particularly stark example of this decline: cheetahs were confirmed present as late as 1977, when a female was killed in Oman, yet are now considered locally extinct there. The Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus ), once the region’s dominant subspecies, is now critically endangered with only a tiny population surviving in Iran.
The primary obstacle to reintroduction has always been habitat loss, but the study suggests that genetic diversity may be the key to future success.
Natural Mummification in the Desert
The arid conditions of the Saudi desert create an ideal environment for natural mummification: the lack of moisture and high mineral content in the sand prevent decomposition. Excavations in 2022 and 2023 uncovered remains dating back as far as 4,000 years, with the mummified specimens ranging from 130 to 1,870 years old.
Unlocking Ancient Cheetah DNA
Researchers successfully extracted complete genome sequences from three of the mummified cheetahs – a first for naturally-preserved big cats. The results revealed a surprising mix of genetic lineages: the most recent specimen closely matches the Asiatic cheetah, while older remains show closer ties to the now-endangered Northwest African subspecies. This suggests that historical gene flow between different cheetah populations was greater than previously thought.
The team argues that this wider genetic pool could make rewilding efforts more viable, as subspecies can interbreed and produce fertile offspring, increasing the population’s long-term resilience.
“These findings demonstrate that ancient DNA records can inform future reintroduction plans not just for cheetahs, but for other endangered species as well,” the study authors conclude.
The preservation of these remains represents a rare opportunity to understand the genetic history of the Arabian cheetah and potentially restore it to its former territory.
