Ethiopian Wolf: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Wild Hunters · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. An Ethiopian wolf may hunt rats right in the middle of a troop of gelada monkeys. The monkeys mostly ignore it, and it catches more rodents there.
2. This wolf laps nectar from red-hot poker flowers. Researchers say it is the only large carnivore known to do so, and it may help pollinate them.
3. In the Bale Mountains, wolves walk among herds of cattle. Hidden by the cows, they can surprise rodents near their holes.
4. Ethiopian wolves never sleep in dens. The pack rests together out in the open at night, and dens are only for nursing pups.
5. The whole pack protects and feeds the pups. Sometimes another female even helps the mother by nursing them.

The quiz

1. Which monkeys does the Ethiopian wolf sometimes hunt among?

• Mandrills
• Geladas (correct)
• Chimpanzees
• Gorillas

Lone wolves hunt rodents inside gelada troops, and catch more of them there.

2. What unusual food does the Ethiopian wolf take from flowers?

• Petals
• Seeds
• Nectar (correct)
• Roots

It drinks nectar from Kniphofia flowers, rare for a large carnivore.

3. In the Bale Mountains, what do wolves use to hide while hunting rodents?

• Herds of cattle (correct)
• Thick forest
• Snowdrifts
• Rivers

They forage among cattle, which hide them from rodents.

4. Where do Ethiopian wolves sleep at night?

• Deep in a den
• Up in trees
• Inside caves near water
• Together out in the open (correct)

They rest together in the open and use dens only for nursing pups.

5. Who helps take care of Ethiopian wolf pups?

• Only the mother
• Every member of the pack (correct)
• Only the father
• Nobody, they look after themselves

All pack members protect and feed the pups.

More about the Ethiopian Wolf

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries