A browse above the dry ground
In southwestern Morocco, argan trees offer goats food in a landscape where edible plants can be sparse. Their leaves and fruit grow well above the ground, so climbing lets the animals reach a meal that other grazing livestock cannot. Goats are natural browsers: unlike animals that mainly graze on grass, they readily feed on shrubs, leaves, and shoots.
How they keep their footing
A goat’s split hoof helps it grip uneven surfaces. The two toes can adjust to a branch’s shape, while the hoof’s tougher outer rim provides purchase. Goats also place their weight carefully, moving from thick limbs toward smaller ones without rushing. Argan branches may look precarious to a person, but the tree’s branching structure gives the animals a series of footholds.
The sight is striking partly because the trees are not tall forest giants; the goats are often perched among low, spreading limbs. Their climbing turns the argan grove into a feeding ground at more than one level—and shows how animals make use of the vegetation available in a dry region.
