The lion,[16] cheetah,[17] and Syrian wild ass[18] used to occur here, as evidenced by Islamic texts. For example, there is a hadith in Muwatta’ Imam Malik about Muslim Pilgrims having to beware of the asad (lion) and fahd (cheetah) in the land, besides other animals.[19] The country's last known cheetahs were killed near Ha'il in 1973.