The Argan Tree’s Unexpected Gardener: Morocco’s Climbing Goats

Deep within Morocco’s Sous Valley lies a captivating natural drama: goats that climb trees. These aren’t just ordinary goats; they are masters of arboreal navigation, scaling argan trees as high as ten meters to savor the succulent fruits. This unique behavior is driven by necessity, particularly during the dry season when food is scarce. While appearing as a curious spectacle, this treetop foraging is a lifeline for the goats and a key factor in the survival of the argan trees. The goats’ digestive system cannot process the hard nuts found within the argan fruit. When these nuts are dropped or passed through their droppings, they are effectively dispersed, providing new seeds with a chance to germinate in the challenging desert conditions, thus acting as unwitting forest planters.