Rare cheetah mummies found in Saudi caves
AP News • • general
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, although the exact cause and reason for the large number of cheetahs in the caves remain unknown.
- This finding is unprecedented, as intact mummified remains of large mammals like cheetahs are extremely rare due to environmental and scavenger challenges.
- Genetic analysis showed the ancient cheetahs are closely related to modern cheetahs from Asia and northwest Africa, offering valuable insights for potential future reintroduction efforts.
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