Ruthless pollinators. For the first time ever, scientists captured the unusual behavior of large predators on video.

Our planet is home to an astonishing number of species, each playing its own crucial role in the ecosystem. Scientists know a lot about some animals, while others continue to surprise researchers: for instance, recently scientists observed unusual behavior in the endangered Ethiopian wolves, which had not been previously documented, reports IFLScience.

Amazing photographs of Ethiopian wolves taken in the Bale Mountains in southern Ethiopia captured the behavior of six large predators that spent four consecutive days foraging for food on Kniphofia foliosa. New findings suggest that the local wolves appear to not only feed on the plant's nectar but may also play an important role in pollination.

The researchers closely examined the photos and the animals' behavior, concluding that these nectar-loving wolves might be just as significant in plant pollination as birds and bees, which are typically considered the primary pollinators. Interestingly, this behavior among large predators has also been recorded for the first time in observational history.

According to co-author of the study, founder and director of the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program at Oxford University, Professor Claudio Sillero, he and his colleagues observed the wolves clumsily licking nectar while collecting a substantial amount of pollen on their snouts. The animals then moved on to other plants in search of sweet nectar, potentially carrying pollen along the way. Researchers noted that some individuals visited about thirty plants in a single "nectar session."

The researchers point out that the sweet nectar of this plant was first discovered when shepherd children in the Bale Mountains licked the flowers. Soon after, Professor Sillero tried the nectar himself and was pleasantly surprised by its sweetness. Later, the professor also noted that birds, insects, and humans are not the only ones enjoying the nectar; Ethiopian wolves seem to have appreciated its taste as well.

The team emphasizes that the discovery of such remarkable behavior in large predators has several advantages. Firstly, Ethiopian wolves have become the only carnivores ever recorded to feed on nectar. It also seems likely that wolves may serve as plant pollinators, although this still needs to be demonstrated in the future.

It is worth noting that pollination by non-flying mammals is not a new phenomenon. Scientists have previously known that small marsupials, such as sugar gliders and rats, can spread plant pollen. However, it is extremely unusual to observe such behavior in a large mammal, especially a carnivore that typically feeds on meat.

Secondly, researchers believe that the wolves' behavior is an example of social learning, as the team observes how adult individuals bring their pups to flowering fields and show them how to properly collect nectar.

Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis) resemble coyotes but are distinguished by their long, narrow skulls and characteristic red-and-white fur. This species holds the title of the rarest wild canid in the world and the most endangered predator in Africa. According to scientists, fewer than 500 individuals remain in the wild today, existing in just 99 packs, and their habitat is confined to six enclaves in the Ethiopian Highlands.