Watch These Bizarre Tree-Climbing Goats in Action
This video will make you want to hoof it through Morocco.
On the dusty road from Marrakech to the coastal town of Essaouira, argan trees pepper the rust-colored countryside. The gnarled, thorny plants grown exclusively in southwestern Morocco and western Algeria may not be pretty, but they attract plenty of fans. Herds of hungry goats pose in their crooked branches, sometimes more than one dozen in a single tree.
There's an explanation for the strange phenomenon. Argan trees produce a fruit that looks like a shriveled olive and ripens each year around June. The resourceful goats crave the bitter taste and aroma, climbing up to 30 feet above ground to get their fix (and up to 84 percent of their diet). The goats eat the whole fruit, even though it's the pulp hiding under the thick peel that tastes so good. The pulp covers a nut that humans desparately covet. So what happens next?
The goats actually excrete the undigestible nuts, traditionally collected to make the oil. Today, mostly Berber women lead the time-consuming process: First, separating animal feed, then cracking open the nuts by hand for their oil-rich kernels to make very expensive cosmetics or food. For example, less than two ounces (50 milliliters) of Josie Maran 100 percent pure argan oil run 48 dollars. That's because it takes more than 60 pounds of fruit to produce one quart of the liquid gold. In Morocco, the argan oil also soaks bread at breakfast or drizzles the top of couscous.
Given the profitable opportunity, some farmers purchase even more goats which ultimately pose threat to the sustainability of the trees. On the flip side, the process opens jobs for local women and draws tourism to the area to witness the unusual sight.
Women's cooperatives seem to make argan oil on every hill in the region. Many places like Marjana cooperative near Ounagha, lead tourists through the production. The windy city of Essaouira offers plenty to do for style-seekers or beach bums with time to spend. But even those tourists just passing through can see the bizarre tree-climbing goats from the road. Need help planning? The Morocco: Sahara & Beyond tour, hosted by National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures, is just one way to go.
You May Also Like
Go Further
Animals
- He’s called ‘omacha,’ a dolphin that transforms into a man. Why?He’s called ‘omacha,’ a dolphin that transforms into a man. Why?
- Behind the scenes at America’s biggest birding festivalBehind the scenes at America’s biggest birding festival
- How scientists are piecing together a sperm whale ‘alphabet’How scientists are piecing together a sperm whale ‘alphabet’
- Orangutan seen using plants to heal wound for first timeOrangutan seen using plants to heal wound for first time
Environment
- He’s called ‘omacha,’ a dolphin that transforms into a man. Why?He’s called ‘omacha,’ a dolphin that transforms into a man. Why?
- The northernmost flower living at the top of the worldThe northernmost flower living at the top of the world
- This beautiful floating flower is wreaking havoc on NigeriaThis beautiful floating flower is wreaking havoc on Nigeria
- What the Aral Sea might teach us about life after disasterWhat the Aral Sea might teach us about life after disaster
- What La Palma's 'lava tubes' tell us about life on other planetsWhat La Palma's 'lava tubes' tell us about life on other planets
History & Culture
- This thriving society vanished into thin air. What happened?This thriving society vanished into thin air. What happened?
- These were the real rules of courtship in the ‘Bridgerton’ eraThese were the real rules of courtship in the ‘Bridgerton’ era
Science
- Is the 5-second rule true? Science finally has an answer.
- Science
- Gory Details
Is the 5-second rule true? Science finally has an answer. - E-bikes are good for the environment—but what about your health?E-bikes are good for the environment—but what about your health?
- Why trigger points cause so much pain—and how you can relieve itWhy trigger points cause so much pain—and how you can relieve it
Travel
- The story of this French village is set in stone — literallyThe story of this French village is set in stone — literally
- How to spend a long weekend in Zagreb, Croatia
- Paid Content
How to spend a long weekend in Zagreb, Croatia - The best LGBTQ-friendly destinations for every travelerThe best LGBTQ-friendly destinations for every traveler