Ancient Cave Reveals 2,000-Year-Old Mummified Cheetahs in Saudi Arabia

• A team from the National Center for Wildlife discovered 61 cheetah remains, including seven naturally mummified ones, in the Lauga cave network, Saudi Arabia.
• The mummified cheetahs, aged 1800-2000 years, had intact skin, paws, teeth, and hair due to the caves' dry, stable, and cool air.
• Radiocarbon dating revealed remains up to 4200 years old, marking the first discovery of naturally mummified large cat family animals on the Arabian Peninsula.
• Genetic analysis showed the ancient cheetahs were similar to the Northwest African cheetah, not the Asiatic cheetah previously thought to inhabit the region.
• Evidence suggests cheetahs used these caves as long-term homes to escape desert heat, challenging previous beliefs about their habitat and offering new conservation hope.

Why It Matters: Discovery of ancient mummified cheetahs in Saudi Arabian caves rewrites their history and offers conservation insights.