The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word ULULATING
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
U
L
U
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A
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Wailing" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case wailing = ululating.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ULULATING mean?
ULULATING verb- To howl loudly or prolongedly in lamentation or joy
- To produce a rapid and prolonged series of sharp noises with one's voice.