Researchers have observed some wolves visiting as many as 30 flowers at a time, drawn by their apparently sweet and delicious nectar.
What is furry, nectar-loving, and a crucial pollinator? It turns out that both bees and Ethiopian wolves might fit the bill.
An international team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Oxford, have observed Ethiopian wolves licking nectar from Ethiopian red hot poker flowersâ€"the first large carnivore to ever be documented feeding on nectar. Their observations, detailed in a November 19 study published in the journal Ecology, suggest that this behavior might support pollination, meaning the wolves may also be the first known large carnivore pollinators.
“I first became aware of the nectar of the Ethiopian red hot poker when I saw children of shepherds in the Bale Mountains licking the flowers. In no time, I had a taste of it myselfâ€"the nectar was pleasantly sweet. When I later saw the wolves doing the same, I knew they were enjoying themselves, tapping into this unusual source of energy,†University of Oxford’s Claudio Sillero, Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP) founder and director who worked on the study, said in the university’s statement.
To which Sillero added: “I am chuffed that we have now reported this behaviour as being commonplace among Ethiopian wolves and explored its ecological significance.â€
Ethiopian wolves are one of the most endangered animals in Africa, and the rarest wild canine species in the world; there are currently fewer than 500 individuals left, according to the statement. Specialists from the EWCP spotted multiple individuals from different packs enjoying the nectar of Ethiopian red hot poker flowers, native to parts of Africa with thick stalks and large, showy blooms.
“The mammals involved in pollination are typically small- to medium-sized and often arboreal species, whereas nectar-feeding carnivoran mammals are much rarer,†the researchers explained in the study. In fact, the Ethiopian wolves might be the only large meat-eating predators ever observed feasting on nectar. The team described the wolves’ behavior as “remarkable,†since various individuals visited up to 30 flowers at a time. Some young wolves even accompanied the adults to the flower fields, suggesting social learning.
When the Ethiopian wolves lick the nectar from the red hot poker flowers, they get pollen all over their muzzles, as detailed in the study. As a result, they might be transferring pollen when they move from flower to flower, essentially acting as pollinators like bees and butterflies. As previously mentioned, this type of feeding might be the first time scientists have observed a plant-pollinator interaction with a large predator.
“These findings highlight just how much we still have to learn about one of the world’s most-threatened carnivores,†Sandra Lai, EWCP senior scientist at the University of Oxford who also worked on the study, said in the statement. “It also demonstrates the complexity of interactions between different species living on the beautiful Roof of Africa. This extremely unique and biodiverse ecosystem remains under threat from habitat loss and fragmentation.†The Ethiopian Highlands are sometimes called the Roof of Africa because of their high elevation.
Next time you hear someone cry wolf, it might be the gardener instead of the shepherd boyâ€"and they might ultimately find the predator quite helpful in the flowerbed!