Cave-borne cheetah DNA reshapes Arabia’s conservation blueprint

Saudi researchers found seven naturally mummified cheetahs in five caves near Arar, with DNA from three mummies showing two of the oldest specimens belonged to Acinonyx jubatus hecki (Northwest African cheetah). Dated up to 4,000 years old (and up to ~1,870 years for some), the remains reveal multiple cheetah lineages once roamed the Arabian Peninsula and indicate cheetahs thrived there historically. The study, based on exceptionally preserved tissue, offers a DNA-backed guide for selecting subspecies and lineages best suited to potential reintroduction in Saudi Arabia’s protected habitats.