Morocco's Nimble Goats

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Goats grazing on precariouslysteep hillsides is a common sight, but perched high atop the branches of a tree? That's a sight you will only see if you go all the way to the North African country of Morocco.

The nimble animals are not a special species, just normal goats that have learnt to adapt to the country's aridenvironment, where their main source of nutrition comes from the tiny berries that grow on the Aragan tree.

Since the trees are sometimes as high as 30 feet, the only way the goats can get to the berries, is by scaling up. Over the years, they have not only figured out how to climb, but also prance around nimbly from branch to branch like ballerinas.

While the climbing goats are in itself fascinating, what is even more interesting is what happens with the goat 'poop' after they have eaten the Aragan berries. The dried-up droppings are collected by the locals, who wash them and then grind and press them to extract oil - Used, for cooking and cosmetic purposes.

Though the whole thing may sound a little gross, Aragan oil is reputed to be very healthy and highly coveted, with a quarter liter of good 'quality' oil retailing for, as much as, $50 USD!

Sources: looklex.com,webecoist.com

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306 Comments
  • Mkover 13 years
    This article is so cool! i think it's cool that these goats can climb a tree by themselves.i enjoyed the video so much. But I have one question.......how can these goats climb a tree by themselves ,like what do they do to climb a tree? But I loved the artical and the video.
    • Iloveyousomuchover 13 years
      So I really loved the main idea it shows how they are grate and amizing things that isq gray in effecting what they can do and we might not m e able to doo and they eat something that we don't eat but grows on teres a and it the worst for some pepol that wants to do. Things with the
      • Nike pipover 13 years
        I won't a gout
        • T.I.Aover 13 years
          This is really cool and I've never seen a goat climb a tree before.
          • T.I.Aover 13 years
            This is really cool I've never seen a goat climb a tree before.
            • T.I.Aover 13 years
              This is really cool I've never seen a goat climb a tree before.
              • Thereseover 13 years
                I like thos gouts and it is amazing
                • L.B.over 13 years
                  That is really cool. I like how you described the goats and the video is awesome, and again that is so cool.
                  • youngrock123
                    youngrock123over 13 years
                    cool!!!!!!!!!!!
                  • jessicaover 13 years
                    omg!! 16 gots in a tree wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!