c. 4,200 years ago – Radiocarbon dating shows the oldest of the cheetah remains from the Lauga cave network dates to about 4,223 years before present, providing the earliest concrete evidence of cheetahs on the Arabian Peninsula [2].

c. 1,800 years ago – Several of the naturally mummified cheetahs date to more than 1,800 years old, extending the known historic presence of the species in northern Saudi Arabia [1].

c. 130 years ago – The youngest mummy in the collection is roughly 130 years old, illustrating a continuous, albeit declining, cheetah presence up to the early 20th century [1].

1970s – present – Over the past five decades Saudi Arabia shifts its wildlife policy, successfully re‑establishing ungulates such as the Arabian oryx, gazelles and Nubian ibex, and now sets cheetah re‑introduction among its biodiversity goals [2].

Jan 15, 2026 – Researchers excavate seven naturally mummified cheetahs and 54 skeletal remains from caves near Arar, Saudi Arabia, uncovering a rare window into the species’ historic range [1][2].

Jan 15, 2026 – Genetic analysis links the mummified cheetahs to modern populations in Asia and north‑west Africa, confirming that both the Asiatic cheetah (A. j. venaticus) and the north‑western African cheetah (A. j. hecki) once inhabited the Arabian Peninsula [1][2].

Jan 15, 2026 – Scientists note that today cheetahs occupy only about 9 % of their former range, a decline driven by habitat loss, unregulated hunting and prey depletion [1].

Feb 5, 2026 – Saudi wildlife authorities announce that restoring apex predators now includes a target to re‑introduce cheetahs, positioning the effort as a flagship component of the kingdom’s conservation agenda [2].

Feb 5, 2026 – Wildlife biologist Ravi Chellam states, “A viable, self‑sustaining cheetah population would need at least 100,000 sq km of semi‑desert habitat that supports diverse prey and is largely free of intensive human activity,” highlighting the scale of habitat required [2].

Feb 5, 2026 – Chellam advises sourcing donor cheetahs from the east‑African A. j. raineyi or southern‑African A. j. jubatus rather than the critically low Iranian population, to avoid further endangering donor stocks [2].

Feb 5, 2026 – Molecular ecologist Liz Kierepka warns, “Translocating cheetahs from already depleted wild stocks could create new problems for donor populations,” urging additional genetic studies before any rewilding proceeds [2].