Picture this: a rust-colored, Ethiopian wolf with a yellow, pollen-coated muzzle delicately lapping nectar from vibrant red and yellow flowers. It sounds like something from a fairy tale, but this extraordinary scene was documented by scientists for the first time last year in the Ethiopian mountains. This nectar-feeding behaviour – the first time this has been reported for a large carnivore – not only represents a truly unique diet for a predator, but also potentially positions them as inadvertent pollinators.
The Ethiopian wolf is the first documented large predator to feed on nectar.
Every year, from the first signs of summer to the start of the fall season, the Ethiopian highlands transform as fields of red hot pokers (Kniphofia foliosa) produce torch-like flower spears that transition from fiery red buds to bright yellow blooms, creating a spectacular display across the landscape. In addition to the beautiful sight, the red hot poker produces copious amounts of sweet nectar that attracts various insects, birds, and mammals—among them, surprisingly, the Ethiopian wolf.
Claudio Sillero, Director of the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program (EWCP), was among the scientists who first observed this unique feeding habit of Ethiopian wolves. What started as a wondrous sight became systematic research as the team documented wolves regularly visiting the flower fields during peak blooming season. Individual wolves were observed visiting 20 to 30 flower stalks in a single foraging session. Noticing that the wolves’ muzzles became completely covered in pollen as they fed, researchers were struck by the possibility that these Endangered wolves were inadvertent pollinators.
Pollen covers a wolf’s muzzle as it feeds.
This discovery highlights just how much we still have to learn about Ethiopian wolves, which number fewer than 500 individuals in the wild. Found only in the Afroalpine regions of Ethiopia, these wolves face constant threats from habitat loss, disease transmission from domestic dogs, and human encroachment. Every new insight into their behavior and ecological relationships becomes crucial for their conservation.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, the EWCP has worked tirelessly to protect these remarkable canids and their fragile mountain ecosystem. Through community engagement, veterinary care, habitat protection, and ongoing research, the program continues to uncover the complex relationships that make the Ethiopian highlands one of Africa’s most unique ecosystems.
EWCP collecting data in the field.
Read more about Ethiopian wolves as potential pollinators in Ecology (Dr. Sandra Lai of the EWCP team was the lead author), and learn more about EWCP’s conservation work in the Ethiopian highlands.
