At first glance, the sight seems almost impossible. Dozens of goats balance effortlessly on the branches of thorny trees, standing several metres above the ground as though they were mountain ledges. This remarkable spectacle has become one of Morocco’s most iconic natural attractions, leaving travellers wondering whether the photographs are even real. Yet these agile animals are not performing tricks. They are simply searching for food in one of North Africa’s driest landscapes. More surprisingly, scientists have discovered that this unusual feeding behaviour may also help disperse seeds and contribute to the natural regeneration of Morocco’s rare argan forests. This is because goats, trees and the community are very closely related to each other, which makes for an intriguing case study of the interaction between animal behaviour, ecology and traditional occupations.
Morocco’s famous tree-climbing goats are helping forests in an unexpected way
As per National Geographic, the legendary tree-climbing goats are mostly seen in south-western Morocco, where argan trees (Argania spinosa) thrive in the semi-arid environment. Unlike other trees, argan produces a fleshy fruit that attracts the goats.Goats are extremely skilled at climbing. They have very strong and well-developed leg muscles and their split hooves, along with superb balance, help them climb easily on narrow and thorny branches to find the best fruit.
Image: Erika Hobart/National Geographic
According to the United Nations, the argan tree is uniquely adapted to Morocco’s dry climate and plays a vital ecological and socio-economic role by providing food, preventing soil erosion and supporting rural livelihoods.Rather than climbing for amusement, the goats are responding to limited grazing opportunities. Reaching the fruit high in the canopy provides a valuable source of energy in an environment where fresh vegetation is often scarce.
How tree-climbing goats help regenerate Morocco’s endangered argan forests
For generations, local communities believed that goats played a role in spreading argan trees, but scientists have recently investigated exactly how this happens.The fruit contains a hard nut that protects the seeds inside. Goats consume the soft outer pulp but often reject or later excrete the tough nut after digestion. This process allows seeds to be transported away from the parent tree, increasing the chances of successful germination in new locations.The research ‘Tree-climbing goats disperse seeds during rumination ’, published in the Ecological Society of America’s journal Frontiers in Ecology and Environment, found that goats can act as effective long-distance seed dispersers for argan trees by transporting viable seeds across the landscape.The researchers concluded:“Goats disperse viable argan seeds. To successfully disperse, many plant species produce edible fruits that attract frugivorous vertebrates, which ingest the fruits and transport the seeds inside their body until they are released elsewhere by regurgitation or defecation.”This finding contradicted the traditional idea that grazing animals have only a negative effect on the forests. If grazing is done in the right way, then goats can also be an asset in reforestation processes due to their ability to disperse seeds outside the canopy cover of the adult tree.Nevertheless, researchers also point out the necessity to keep a proper balance. Overgrazing, especially by large flocks of animals, can hinder the development of seedlings in argan woodlands.
Does goat climbing really benefit the argan oil industry and local communities?
Argania Spinosa is a very well-known tree globally because it produces argan oil, which is regarded as the most expensive plant-based oil. This oil is traditionally used in Moroccan cuisine and is currently getting more popular in the beauty and cosmetic industries. It is produced from seeds that grow within the fruit’s hard nut.One of the many myths surrounding the production of argan oil is that it is always produced using seeds that are collected from goat faeces.The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation for the Arganeraie highlights the area’s exceptional environmental, cultural and economic importance, recognising it as a landscape where biodiversity conservation and sustainable development are closely linked.Millions of people have seen photographs of goats perched in trees, but some roadside displays are created specifically for tourists. Conservation organisations and wildlife experts encourage visitors to choose ethical operators and avoid attractions where animals appear to be placed in trees solely for photography rather than natural grazing.When observed in genuine grazing areas, however, tree-climbing goats remain one of nature’s most extraordinary examples of behavioural adaptation to a challenging environment.
An unusual partnership shaped by nature
The idea of goats perched atop the branches might appear ridiculous at first glance; however, this is an example of an exceptional biological interaction which has been developed over hundreds of years. Under the influence of a scarcity of food resources, such nimble creatures climb up argan trees and consume their fruit, thereby dispersing their seeds.When combined with sustainable land use, this natural tendency helps preserve one of the most unusual forest ecosystems on Earth. This proves that even the most unusual animal behaviours are capable of playing a vital part in conservation efforts.
