World Wolf seen licking ‘red hot poker’ plant shows new behavior for predators, study saysResearchers documented this behavior in wolves from different packs, suggesting it may be a learned trait. This unusual food preference may also inadvertently make them the world’s only documented large carnivorous pollinator, potentially filling a similar ecological role to insects and birds in their environment. Ethiopian wolves were documented foraging for nectar from as many as 30 Ethiopian red hot poker plants. More research is needed to determine whether the wolves can successfully pollinate the Ethiopian red hot poker flower, and if their presence adds value to the plant’s pollination process. The Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme is a partnership between the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) at the University of Oxford, the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), and Dinkenesh Ethiopia, according to the release.

Source: Ethiopian News November 25, 2024 19:23 UTC