In the late 1980s, biologist Claudio Sillero made a startling observation while studying Ethiopian wolves in the country’s high-altitude grasslands: these elusive carnivores were deliberately licking the vibrant, nectar-rich flowers of the red hot poker plant. This unexpected behavior, recently documented in the journal Ecology, is the first known case of a large predator sampling nectar — a dietary twist that may even turn these rare canids into accidental pollinators.
A Carnivore with a Sweet Tooth
Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis) are best known for their specialized diet of small rodents. Yet, as Sillero and fellow researchers closely monitored six wolves from three different packs over four consecutive days, they consistently witnessed the animals pausing for a sugary treat. Some spent as little as a minute licking flower heads, while others lingered for up to 1.5 hours. This nectar feeding supplements their meat-based diet, fitting what scientists call the “dessert hypothesis”—using an extra resource they find enjoyable, though not essential.
Shared Taste for Nectar
Ethiopian wolves aren’t alone in savoring these highland blossoms. Other local species, including baboons, mountain goats, and even domestic dogs, also enjoy the sweet nectar. Children living near these highland areas have been observed sampling the flowers as well. After witnessing their enjoyment, Sillero himself tried the nectar, describing it as “very sweet and quite pleasant.”
Unexpected Pollinators?
As the wolves feed on nectar, pollen accumulates on their muzzles. Considering that some individuals visited up to 30 different flower blooms during a single outing, researchers theorize that these canids may help pollinate the plants by transferring pollen between flowers. While birds are the primary pollinators of the tall, red-and-orange blossoms, this new finding raises intriguing questions: could a large carnivore play a role, however small, in pollinating these Afroalpine plants?
Are Wolves Effective Pollinators?
Pollination ecologist Jeff Ollerton, who wasn’t involved in the research, points out that the red hot poker flowers are typically pollinated by birds attracted to their bright colors and abundant nectar. Given the wolf’s shorter stature, they may only reach the lowest blooms—flowers that are often already pollinated or no longer viable. Still, mammal pollination is an under-documented phenomenon. Bats are known pollinators among mammals, but less is known about ground-dwelling nectar feeders. Further research will be needed to confirm just how effectively these predators might spread pollen and whether their flower-feeding causes any long-term harm or benefit to the plants.
Protecting Africa’s Rarest Canid
Fewer than 500 adult Ethiopian wolves remain, confined to a handful of isolated areas in Ethiopia’s Afroalpine meadows. Habitat loss, driven by the nation’s rapidly expanding population, and diseases spread by domestic dogs have placed them on the endangered species list. The Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme, founded by Sillero in 1995, has helped stabilize their population, prompting the IUCN to reclassify these wolves from “critically endangered” to “endangered” in 2004.
Inspiring Conservation Through Discovery
Public engagement and awareness are vital tools for the conservation of this charismatic predator. By sharing unusual and intriguing aspects of Ethiopian wolf behavior—such as their newfound taste for nectar—Sillero aims to spotlight the species’ importance as a flagship for broader biodiversity protection. If efforts to safeguard these wolves continue to succeed, the benefits will “trickle down” to other native species, their delicate ecosystems, and the local communities that call Ethiopia’s highlands home.