Jackals as pollinators? They like to eat nectar

Kaberu Ethiopian (Canis simensis), called the Ethiopian jackal or the Abyssinian wolf, is a species of predatory mammal belonging to the canidae family. It occurs only in Ethiopia, up to an altitude of 3-4.5 thousand meters above sea level. There are fewer than 500 individuals left in the wild, grouped into 99 family groups.

The species was observed by scientists involved in the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program (EWCP), a collaboration between the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) and the University of Oxford, the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) and Dinkenesh Ethiopia. Experts working on this project observed that individual jackals can consume nectar from up to 30 flowers during one migration. Kniphofia foliosa. These are not very tall perennials whose red and yellow flowers, gathered on long stems, resemble brushes for scrubbing bottles. During the flowering period, the clusters of these plants are systematically visited by numerous jackals from various groups.

Cases of knowledge about this resource being passed on among this species were also observed – older individuals brought young individuals to the clumps of these flowers. An article on this topic was published in the journal “Ecology”.

Kaberu comb whole plants with their mouths in search of nectar, thanks to which they can participate in the transfer of pollen between flowers and their clumps. This behavior may be the first known example of a pollination interaction between a plant and a large predator that feeds on its nectar.

– This discovery shows how much we can still learn about one of the most endangered predators. It also shows the complexity of interactions between different species of predators living in this beautiful part of Africa. This unique and biodiverse ecosystem remains at risk due to habitat loss and fragmentation, said Dr. Sandra Lai, a scientist at the University of Oxford and lead author of the study.

– For the first time about the existence of nectar Kniphofia foliosa I found out by seeing shepherd children from the Urgoma Mountains licking flowers. I quickly tried it myself – the nectar was pleasantly sweet. When I later saw jackals doing the same thing, I knew they liked it and were also using an extraordinary source of energy. “I am delighted that we are now describing this phenomenon as common among Ethiopian jackals and that we are learning about the ecological significance of this behavior,” said Professor Claudio Sillero from the University of Oxford and founder of EWCP.