Mummified cheetahs discovered in caves in Saudi Arabia: "Something that I've never seen before"
CBS News • • world
Key Points:
- Scientists discovered mummified cheetah remains in caves near Arar, northern Saudi Arabia, dating from 130 to over 1,800 years old, including seven mummies and bones of 54 other cheetahs.
- The dry cave conditions likely contributed to the natural mummification process, though researchers remain uncertain about the exact reasons for the cheetahs' presence and preservation in the caves.
- This rare finding offers new insights into the evolutionary history and extinction of cheetahs in the Arabian Peninsula, where they have not been seen for decades due to habitat loss and other factors.
- The discovery is unprecedented for large mammal preservation in the region, with intact cheetah remains providing valuable information about past wildlife
 { path { fill: %23EEEFE9 } })