Role of grooming in reducing tick load in wild baboons (Papio cynocephalus)

► We assessed the relationship between grooming behaviour, tick load and tick-borne infection in wild yellow baboons. ► Grooming played a role in reducing tick loads. ► Older, low-ranking individuals and males were most vulnerable to high tick loads. ► We also found that tick load affected packed cell volume, an indicator of health in this baboon population.