Imagine a wolf that, instead of chasing prey, stops to delicately sniff a flower and then licks its sweet nectar. It seems like a surreal image, yet this is exactly what happens in the Ethiopian highlands, where the very rare local wolves have developed an unexpected taste for the sugary nectar of the flowers of Kniphophia. The discovery, the result of observations by an international team led by researchers from theOxford University, opens up surprising ecological scenarios: these predators could in fact be the first pollinators of their size never documented.
It is not a joke of nature, but a reality documented by a recent study published in the journal Ecology (I link it here). Scientists have observed several individuals of Ethiopian Wolf, a species Critically endangered with less than 500 individuals remaining, while they indulged with gusto in this unusual floral "snack". Some visited up to 30 flowers in succession, accumulating a good dose of pollen on their faces which they then transferred from one flower to another. A behavior that, in fact, makes them real pollinators including the bees and the butterflies. Sure, somewhat unusual pollinators.
Pollinating Wolves: Nectar as an Energy “Reward”
But what drives a fierce predator to behave like a docile hummingbird? Simple, energy! Nectar is in fact a highly energetic sugary resource that can provide an extra boost even to a hunter. He knows this well Claudio Sillero, founder ofEthiopian Wolf Conservation Program (EWCP) and co-author of the study, which said:
When I saw the wolves licking the flowers, I understood that they were enjoying the moment, drawing on this unusual source of energy.
It is not the first time that Sillero “tastes” the nectar of the flowers of Kniphophia, having seen it done by the children of the local shepherds. A flavour that he defines as pleasantly sweet and which, apparently, his beloved wolves also like. A delicious reward for hard work of pollinators unaware.
A unique and threatened ecosystem
The discovery, in addition to surprising us, highlights how much there is still to learn about one of the most threatened carnivore species in the world. Not only: as underlined by Sandra Lai, EWCP Senior Researcher, this study also demonstrates the complexity of interactions between different species living in the beautiful “Roof of Africa”, as the Ethiopian highlands are called.
A unique ecosystem rich in biodiversity, which however remains under threat from habitat loss and fragmentation. A danger not only for wolves, but also for plants that, who knows, may have found in this predator a precious ally for their survival. A fascinating interaction that, if confirmed, would add a new chapter to the infinite wonder of nature. Who knows, perhaps in the future it will be the gardener instead of the shepherd who cries “wolf!”
