For the first time, Ethiopian wolves have been observed consuming the nectar from Ethiopian red hot poker flowers. This marks the first occasion of a large carnivore species being documented feeding on nectar. By doing so, these wolves may serve a role in pollination, potentially establishing the first known plant-pollinator relationship involving a large carnivore.
Recent research published in the journal Ecology has described this newly identified behavior in Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis). Scientists from the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP) noticed that these wolves were gathering nectar from the Ethiopian red hot poker (Kniphofia foliosa) flowers. Some wolves were recorded visiting up to 30 flowers in one outing, with members from various packs engaging in this activity. There are indications of social learning, as younger wolves are taken to these flowering areas by adults.
As the wolves feed, their snouts become dusted with pollen, which they might spread from one bloom to another. This unique behavior could represent the first known interaction between a large predator and a plant in terms of pollination and is also the sole observation of a large meat-eating predator consuming nectar.
Dr. Sandra Lai, a senior scientist with the EWCP at the University of Oxford and the lead author of the study, remarked: “These discoveries emphasize how little we truly know about one of the world’s most endangered carnivores. They also reveal the intricate connections between various species inhabiting the remarkable Roof of Africa. This exceptional and diverse ecosystem is presently at risk due to habitat destruction and fragmentation.”
Professor Claudio Sillero, founder and director of EWCP at the University of Oxford, shared his experience of witnessing this behavior: “I first learned about the nectar from the Ethiopian red hot poker when I observed shepherd children in the Bale Mountains tasting the flowers. Soon after, I sampled it myself and found it pleasantly sweet. When I later noticed the wolves doing the same, I realized they were relishing this unique source of energy. I’m delighted that we’ve now recognized this behavior as a common occurrence among Ethiopian wolves and investigated its ecological importance.”
The Ethiopian wolf is the rarest wild canid species globally and is considered Africa’s most imperiled carnivore. Native solely to the Ethiopian highlands, there are fewer than 500 of these wolves left, living in 99 packs across six Afroalpine regions.
The Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP) was established in 1995 to conserve the wolves and their distinctive habitat. This initiative is a collaboration between the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) at the University of Oxford, the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), and Dinkenesh Ethiopia. EWCP is the longest-standing conservation project in Ethiopia, dedicated to preserving natural habitats for the benefit of both wildlife and local communities in the Ethiopian highlands.
