On our trip to Essaouira, we also came across one tree full of goats and a goat herder collecting money to take pictures of his goats. And if it had been June when the argan fruit is ripe, we’d have seen local goats thoroughly enjoying themselves in the trees without the farmer’s insistence. It's a Darwinian talent goats developed to reach argan fruit. Some producers remove the flesh mechanically without drying the fruit. . Answer: (a) the Berbers of Morocco are indigenous people similar to the First Nations people of North America. There is an abundance of the argan tree in the Souss Massa Draa region outside Marrakech, an area very popular with tourists. However, Gekoski believes that argan oil harvested by Moroccan locals is more ethical. Goats in Morocco do climb trees naturally, and help to create argan oil in the process — they eat the trees' fruit, and then release nuts through their waste. They are so eager to munch on argan fruit that, after eating the low-hanging fruit, the goats actually scramble up the spiny trees to reach the higher fruit. The tree reaches heights of 25-30 feet, and has a knobby, twisted trunk that allows for goat climbers. All rights reserved. Argan Tree Goats of Morocco Morocco is the only country in the world where domestic goats graze off the ground and in the trees. Moroccan argan oil is made from the seed of the Argania Spinosa (Argan Tree), a native to the Souss-Massa-Drâa region of Morocco and Algeria. Question #2: What do goats and cosmetics have in common? The goats eat the argan nuts for the nutritious qualities of the outer nut. More down on the ground, Lybbert said he's also heartened to see other countries, like Israel, dipping their toes -- if not their goats -- into argan tree growing and oil production, which may lead to  the development of some more sustainable practices. These evergreen trees, also known as Berber for the region in which they are found, are the sole species of the Argania family. The trees are argan, and their unlikely companions are goats. On another positive note, the goats are engaged in a self-marination process as their flesh takes on the wonderful aroma of argan. Here's how UC Davis put it in a media release: "As households benefit economically, they often purchase more goats. Once upon a time these nimble goats climbed up argan trees to eat the fruit. Initially, I lamented the modernization. . I had no intention of buying anything when we first stopped, but something about the humanitarian aspect of the cooperative touched me. Kew’s second Director, Sir Joseph Hooker, had a keen interest in argan trees. In south-western Morocco, acrobatic goats climb argan trees to eat their fruit and leaves. What Lybbert found is that the economics of argan oil are very complicated, but that participating in the argan oil market tends to make a family richer and presents important opportunities for women and girls. While the traditional method allows the goats to processes the nuts first, as this softens the husk, some Berber … "Also, having so many goats in one place threatens the sustainability of the trees as their hooves damage the branches. The best part of a road trip is getting to know your traveling companions. It has a bit of a gritty or maybe I should say chewy taste, earthy, gently sweet, and utterly delicious. Goats seem to be everywhere in pop culture these days, from bleating goat videos on shows like The Good Wife to the always Instagramable goat yoga.So it should come as no surprise that pictures of goats climbing argan trees in Morocco are what’s giving us life this week. No need to register, buy now! In some parts of Morocco, goats can be found perched on the branches of argan trees, nibbling away at their fruit and leaves. When travelling in the South of Morocco, specifically in Souss, You may come across rather an unusual sight goats perched on the branches of Argan trees, happily munching on fruit. "Elsewhere in Morocco, women will harvest Argan oil by hand, which is … In fact, the owner placed the goats we saw in the argan tree on little stands for visitors to photograph, which I obligingly did. Goats on the Argan tree were a tourist trap that many enjoyed taking its picture to create a sensation and help many media outlets spread fake news. As mentioned, goats love the kernels of the argan trees and constitute a major part of their diet in the region. If processing argan oil by hand means the buying and herding of fewer goats, you might think this would lead in turn to fewer goats in trees. you see those shopping baskets under the Amlou sign? You've goat to see these billies and does. The cooperative salespeople offered us a taste of the raw brown remains post-grinding. But the seeds of the argan trees that these goats graze on are about an inch long and a half-inch across — too big for a goat to pass. Goats are the primary threat to the argan forests because they climb the trees to graze their leaves.". The tree … Today is National Voter Registration Day! But it is a weird sight! The goats then poop out undigestible seeds -- which are collected, processed and turned into very expensive cosmetics and food. Rather, families buy them as "the primary store of wealth" -- living, breathing, tree-climbing (and ruining, sometimes) commodities that can be sold or eaten, if not otherwise useful, he explained. Any suggestion, how and where to go to see the goats? Nowadays they put the goats up in the trees for the tourists and use an industrial method to extract the oil from the nuts. Only then will these adorable, economically interesting, ecologically compromising ungulates be let back to nibble away up in the trees, and then produce that precious, precious poop. Whereas humans don’t benefit from the fruits, goats relish the pulpy fruits that cover the tough outer skin. Kew’s second Director, Sir Joseph Hooker, had a keen interest in argan trees. Find argan tree goat stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. Gayathri Krishnan. In a letter to his wife from May 1871, he wrote about these “remarkable little trees” and was struck by the sight of tree-climbing goats. In some parts of Morocco, goats can be found perched on the branches of argan trees, nibbling away at their fruit and leaves. Well, maybe Moroccan kids and tourists together can help fix this problem, at least a little bit. Goats in Argan Argania spinosa tree as seen in Morocco. This video was taken in southwestern Morocco by photographer Michael Chinnici (who leads Moroccan photo tours, so you can see and capture this magical sight yourself!). Definitely check out more photos and videos of the tree-climbing goats on Michael Chinnici's website. The goats eat the argan nuts for the nutritious qualities of the outer nut. On the surface, one can see the goats climbing the Argania spinosa commonly known as the argan tree. Goats in Argan Argania spinosa tree as seen in Morocco. Apparently the goats climbed specific trees, Argan trees, mainly found in the southern part of Morocco. Argan forest areas in Morocco have declined considerably in size in the past 100 years (excessive deforestation … Have you done something on a trip you later regretted for ethical reasons? The goats have developed the ability to climb up into the argan trees in order to eat the fruit. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures added every day. Maybe I can time it right and travel from the roses to the argan forests and see goats munching nuts in the trees. The nut contains the argan oil in a very hard shell, however, and the goats cannot digest it. Nope, your eyes aren't going baa-d. What you're seeing here is indeed a tree full of goats. Let me be absolutely clear. Michael Chinnici/PHOTO WORKSHOP ADVENTURES, Michael Chinnici/Photo Workshop Adventures, which are collected, processed and turned into very expensive cosmetics and food, argan oil is mostly manufactured by hand now, looked at some of the nerdier aspects of argan oil. The nut contains the argan oil in a very hard shell, however, and the goats cannot digest it. With such sightings of goats in unlikely places, the one seemed to normalize the other somewhat. Goats. Editor’s note: This is an updated version of a story originally posted on March 17, 2010. You could easily find a dozen goats standing on the branches of a single tree. The stories you will read here about people who have overcome physical and emotional challenges in order to continue to travel are all individual experiences. But these Moroccan trees still tend to … The Luxurious Poop From These Tree-Climbing Goats Produces Argan Oil. They are a thorny evergreen variety that grow in drought-ridden areas…they are hearty. They will graze both beneath the tree and up in its aerial leaves. The woman’s left hand covers the hole in the stone where she drops the nuts. But children, which is to say human kids, are doing their parts for both the economy and the environment by keeping the goats grounded -- until the tourists pay up. They are a thorny evergreen variety that grow in drought-ridden areas…they are hearty. The inner kernel passes through their gut and is excreted, whereupon the Morocans pick it up and crush it for the oil. Goats Of The Argan Trees. We’ll long remember Amine for his humor, generosity, and intelligent responses. In Morocco, goats will climb trees and stand on the branches to eat the leaves and fruits, which has the unfortunate consequence of stunting upward tree growth. The Argan tree produces a bitter fruit that looks a bit like an olive, and the goats climb up to 30 feet off the ground to comb the branches to eat them. According to some sources, in response to increased demand for the product, argan oil is mostly manufactured by hand now, in large part by all-female argan oil cooperatives. Incidentally, we hired a Berber guide whose insights opened up fresh ways to experience Morocco. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Like what a growing market for the oil does to a Moroccan household's finances, and what the goats are doing to the environment. Photo about Black and white goats in Argan tree, Morocco. Moroccans usually use the flesh as animal feed. Your email address will not be published. The fruit contains an indigestible nut that is collected and used to create oil for food and pricey cosmetics. The downside to this economic boon is that it leads to families buying more tree-climbing goats, which can be very bad for Morocco's argan forests. They are so eager to munch on argan fruit that, after eating the low-hanging fruit, the goats actually scramble up the spiny trees to reach the higher fruit. Argan oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. The tree is native to southern Morocco, where it grows in open forests up to an altitude of more than 5,000 feet. They actually help in the production of one of Morocco’s most valuable products: argan oil, dubbed "desert gold". The goats perform more than a balancing act, though. well . It can be more than entertaining–it can be positively revelatory! Your email address will not be published. To create oil for food and pricey cosmetics s left hand covers the hole in argan tree goats... 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