These rare wolves sip nectar like bees and can pollinate like them

What is fur, nectar-loving and a crucial pollinator? It seems that both bees and Ethiopian wolves might be suitable.

An international team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Oxford, observed Ethiopian wolves licking nectar from red poker flowers in Ethiopia – the first large carnivore ever documented to feed on nectar. Their observations, detailed in a Nov. 19 study published in the journal Ecologysuggests that this behavior could support pollination, meaning that wolves may also be the first known large carnivorous pollinators.

“I first became aware of the nectar of Ethiopian poker when I saw the shepherds’ children in Bale Mountains licking the flowers In no time, I tasted it too—the nectar was pleasantly sweet. When I later saw the wolves doing the same, I knew they were having fun, taking advantage of this unusual source of energy,” said Claudio Sillero of the University of Oxford, founder and director of the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program (EWCP) who worked to study, in of the university statement.

To which Sillero added: “I am delighted to have now reported this behavior as common among Ethiopian wolves and explored its ecological significance.”

Ethiopian wolves are one of the most endangered animals in Africa and the rarest species of wild mug in the world; currently less than 500 people remain, according to the statement. EWCP specialists observed several individuals in different packs enjoying the nectar of red Ethiopian poker flowers, native to parts of Africa, with thick stems and large, showy flowers.

“Mammals involved in pollination are typically small to medium-sized species and often arboreal, while carnivorous mammals that feed on nectar are much rarer,” the researchers explained in the study. In fact, Ethiopian wolves may be the only large meat-eating predators ever to observe nectar feasting. The team described the wolves’ behavior as “remarkable”, as different individuals visited up to 30 flowers at once. Some young wolves even accompanied the adults to the flower fields, suggesting social learning.

When Ethiopian wolves lick nectar from poker red flowers, they get pollen over their snouts, as detailed in the study. As a result, they could transfer pollen when they move from flower to flower, essentially acting as pollinators like bees and butterflies. As previously mentioned, this type of feeding may be the first time scientists have observed a plant-pollinator interaction with a large predator.

“These findings highlight how much we still have to learn about one of the world’s most threatened carnivores,” said Sandra Lai, EWCP scientist at the University of Oxford, who also worked on the study. “It also demonstrates the complexity of the interactions between the different species living on the beautiful Roof of Africa. This highly 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 altitude.

The next time you hear someone cry wolf, it might be the gardener instead of the shepherd boy – and they might eventually find the predator quite useful in the flower bed!