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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Morocco's Climbing Goats




Goats on trees are found mostly only in Morocco. The goats climb them because they like to eat the fruit of the argan tree, which is similar to an olive. Farmers actually follow the herds of goats as they move from tree to tree. Not because it is so strange to see goats in trees and the farmers like to point and stare, but because the fruit of the tree has a nut inside, which the goats can't digest, so they spit it up or excrete it which the farmers collect. The nut contains 1-3 kernels, which can be ground to make argan oil used in cooking and cosmetics. This oil has been collected by the people of the region for hundreds of years, but like many wild and useful things these days, the argan tree is slowly disappearing due to over-harvesting for the tree's wood and overgrazing by goats.
As a result a group of people and organizations have banded together to try to save the tree. To do so one of the primary locations where the trees grow has been declared a biosphere preserve. It was also decided that by making the world aware of the oil, it's great taste and supposed anti-aging properties, would create a demand for it. However, the people who planned to market the oil could not envision people wanting to put an oil on their food or their face that was collected from goat excrement. As a result, a campaign is being led to ban grazing on the trees by goats during certain parts of the year to allow the fruit to ripen and fall off on its own. The fruit is then collected and turned into oil by oil cooperatives. So far, this arrangement seems to be working.

5 comments:

kalakadoo said...

http://www.1001funquizzes.com/dumb-blonde-test?gatherer_id=100332&gclid=CNS4s8nGtpMCFRMYagodNH8dCg











this actually foofoo, using kalakadoo's account 'cuz i'm to lazy to sign out.

Random Irregular said...

Hello:)
i like goats. don't you think they're cute?

FN da World Dictator said...

goats are REALLY cute, but I like chickens more (who doesn't?). Giant squids are coolest!

Anonymous said...

FN, i want a pygmy goat (totally cute. i'll email you a pic).


goats are...fine

fainting goats are...better

pygmy goats....are best

chickens....rock

Random Irregular said...

You love Chickens???
I LOVE CHICKENS! Aaaaagh! People think I'm a freak for loving chickens. I love, love, love, love, love chickens. They are so cute. Their little beaks, their feathers, they way they look at you, they way they drink water. Eeek, too cute.
Foofoo and WD, you rock!