Tick infestation troubles cheetah cubs in Indian reintroduction project

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At least seven cubs that are part of a cheetah relocation project are suffering from tick infestation, creating a tricky situation for wildlife authorities looking to treat them safely in the open forest. Authorities at the Kuno National Park in the central Madhya Pradesh state said they feared darting the cubs and carrying out a medical intervention could result in their mothers abandoning them. The young age of the cubs, “combined with their location in expansive soft release bomas, makes the tranquilisation process risky and complicated”, the park’s management told TheIndian Express. Scrutiny of the project increased after several of the cheetahs died and many repeatedly strayed outside the national park, compelling the Kuno park authorities to tranquilise and bring them back.