Or so we are told by
this piece in today’s New York
Times. I’ve seen these tree-climbing goats before. Not in person, but in pictures and, I’m sure, on some National
Geographic special. And like all things really cool and exotic, they are threatened.
But here’s the twist. It’s not really the goats that are threatened. It’s the trees, called argan trees. You
see, the trees burn, and that makes them very appealing to people who are cold or in need of wood to cook their food.
And the goats overgraze the trees too. But there is hope! Because people have discovered (or, I guess they have known
for centuries…perhaps re-discovered is the proper term) that the oil of the nuts that grow in the trees, the nuts that
are the reason the goats climb the trees in the first place, have an oil inside them makes a dandy face cream. It also
is used in cooking and is said to be very tasty, especially once they have passed through a goat. And no conveniently,
there might be a reason to save the trees, which is good news for them, and for the goats, and for us!
I’ll have my fries cooked in goat crap oil, please!