Ethiopian wolves feed on nectar, may be first large carnivores to act as pollinators

Researchers observed Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis) feeding on the nectar of the Ethiopian red hot poker (Kniphofia foliosa) flowers, marking the first known documentation of large carnivores purposefully consuming nectar. According to a study published in the journal Ecology, the team tracked six Ethiopian wolves from three different packs over four days, observing this unprecedented behavior.

An international team, including researchers from the University of Oxford, found that these wolves, normally carnivorous animals, are attracted to the brightly colored flowers of Kniphofia foliosa, where they lick nectar typically between May and October. Researchers noted that multiple wolves from different packs exploit this nectar resource, highlighting the wolves' potential role in the ecosystem and emphasizing the need for conservation efforts.

“These findings highlight just how much we still have to learn about one of the world's most-threatened carnivores," stated Dr. Sandra Lai, a Senior Scientist at the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP) and lead author of the study.

Lai noted "it also demonstrates the complexity of interactions between different species living on the "Roof of Africa." "This extremely unique and biodiverse ecosystem remains under threat from habitat loss and fragmentation,” she said.

Researchers say Ethiopian wolves may be the first large carnivores that act as pollinators, as they have been observed moving from flower to flower, potentially distributing pollen and contributing to plant reproduction.

“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," Claudio Sillero, founder and director of the EWCP, shared his experience. "In no time, I had a taste of it myself—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. I am chuffed that we have now reported this behavior as being commonplace among Ethiopian wolves and explored its ecological significance.”

Ethiopian wolves are the rarest wild canid species in the world and Africa's most threatened carnivore, with fewer than 500 individuals surviving in 99 packs restricted to six Afroalpine enclaves. Found only in the Ethiopian highlands, specifically in mountainous regions over 3,000 meters, these wolves prefer to hunt rodents, especially a large species of mole, but they occasionally capture hares or antelopes.

"For large carnivores, like wolves, nectar consumption is very unusual due to the absence of physical adaptations, and because most flowers are too fragile or produce too little nectar to interest large animals," Dr. Lai explained.

During observations, some wolves visited as many as 30 blooms in a single trip (Asriran). While most wolves only visited a few flowers, one licked 20 flowers and another licked 30 flowers in a single foray. When the wolves reached the Ethiopian red hot poker plants, they usually licked the lowest mature flowers, which contained the most nectar.

There is evidence of social learning among Ethiopian wolves, with juveniles being brought to the flower fields by adults, suggesting that the behavior of feeding on Kniphofia nectar could be passed from generation to generation.

It is still unclear whether the wolves are effective pollinators, and because the flowers attract many species, it's also not clear how important any potential pollination from the wolves is to the flowers' survival. "Trying to confirm true pollination by the wolves would be ideal, but it would be quite difficult," Lai said.

The Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme, established in 1995, is a partnership between the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford, the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, and Dinkenesh Ethiopia. EWCP is the longest-running conservation program in Ethiopia and aims to safeguard the future of natural habitats for the benefit of wildlife and people in the highlands of Ethiopia.

Science Daily, SciencePost, Spektrum der Wissenschaft, El Peridico, and Gazeta.ru are among the new websites that reported on the discovery.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq