The Incredible Tree-Climbing Goats of Morocco
If you’ve never heard of the Incredible Tree-Climbing Goats of Morocco, you’re in for a treat. This week, WebEcoist profiles these curious creatures, who have developed the ability to scale native Argan trees and maneuver through branches in search of food. But wait! That’s not all. They also leave behind droppings that can be ground into oil to be used for culinary and cosmetic purposes. I know. It’s incredible!
But like a lot of species in this messed up world, these kids are increasingly threatened as Argan trees continue to be over-harvested. And what is a Moroccan goat without a tree to climb? A very sad goat indeed.
Surely there is a way for humans and tree-climbing goats to coexist peacefully. Ingrid Newkirk, President of PETA, spoke to BigThink about her notion of basic animal rights. It’s about “respecting them as individuals or other nations… with their own language, with their own culture, with their own way of doing things.” And if a goat wants to climb a tree, it darn sure ought to be able to.
